Route 62

The Cape Route 62 runs between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn through the interior of the Western Cape province along green vineyards, beautiful mountain passes, crystal clear rivers, through small villages and the karoo (half-desert). The first part from Cape Town to Worcester you drive on the N1 highway, then from Worcester to about Montagu you follow the R60 and then to Oudtshoorn the R62, where the name of the route comes from. This route is extremely suitable for self-driving due to the good condition of the road network, safety, many different accommodation options along the route and the diversity of sights.

Driving from Cape Town you will first find the many vineyards and fruit plantations around Tulbagh, Ceres, Worcester, Robertson, Montagu and Bonnievale. In these villages among the mountains there are plenty of opportunities for wine tasting and tours at the different farms. In Bonnievale on the Breede River, also known as the valley of cheese and wine, you can taste different cheeses in addition to wine. Water sports such as kayaking and fishing can also be enjoyed along the Breede River. In Worcester there are various possibilities for excursions such as a visit to the world’s largest brandy distillery, the Kleinplasie open-air museum or the Karoo desert Botanical Gardens.
In Montagu there are natural hot springs for relaxing or strolling through the village with its special architecture.
Barrydale lies in the transition zone between fertile valleys and the dry Kleine Karoo. A notable stop in Barrydale is a small roadside shop with the inscription ‘Ronny’s sex shop’, a funny marketing strategy to lure people to the small supermarket.

Ladismith, at the foot of the Swartberg mountains, is suitable for a village walk because of the different architectural styles including Neo-Gothic, Cape Dutch, Victorian and Karoo style.

Driving further through the mountains you will arrive at the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn, the best place to visit an ostrich farm, but there are also crocodile farms. You will also find the Cango Caves, these caves have beautiful rooms and are certainly worth a visit. Oudtshoorn offers a good base for hiking, horse riding, mountain biking or a car ride through the beautiful Swartberg Pass towards Prince Albert.

The Meiringspoort starts at De Rust, a paved road through beautiful rock formations along a small river.

In Uniondale, according to many the official end of route 62, there are many rock paintings of the Khoisan that are between 1500 and 6000 years old.
Route 62 can be combined well with the Garden Route for a wonderful holiday in the Western Cape.
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