Oudtshoorn Local Municipality covers the Little Karoo around the ostrich-farming capital of the same name, in the Western Cape’s Garden Route District. The 2022 census counted 138,257 people across 3,540 km², up from 95,933 in 2011. Oudtshoorn is the seat.
Oudtshoorn built its wealth in the late 1800s on ostrich-feather exports, and its grand sandstone “feather palaces” still stand as a reminder of that boom, alongside the working show farms that keep the industry alive today.
Towns and Villages in Oudtshoorn
Oudtshoorn, the seat, dominates the municipality as its commercial hub and the historic centre of South Africa’s ostrich-feather industry. Dysselsdorp and De Rust are the main outlying towns, the latter on the scenic R62 route.
| Town | Note | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Oudtshoorn | Municipal seat | 73,694 |
| Dysselsdorp | Farming town | 15,029 |
| De Rust | Foothill town on the R62 | 4,272 |
Other named places in the municipality:
- Aangenaam
- Bloupunt
- Bongolethu
- Boplaas
- De Hoop
- Hazenjacht
- Hoopvol
- Kammanassiedam
- Kerkrand
- Kruisrivier
- Matjiesrivier
- Middelplaas
- Schoemanshoek
- Vlakteplaas
- Volmoed
Geography
The municipality sits in the Little Karoo basin between the Swartberg and Outeniqua mountain ranges, drained by the Olifants and Grobbelaars rivers. It borders Prince Albert to the north, George to the east, Mossel Bay to the south, and Hessequa and Kannaland to the west, within the Garden Route District.
The Cango Caves, in the foothills of the Swartberg north of Oudtshoorn, form one of South Africa’s largest dolomite cave systems and are the municipality’s best-known tourist site.
Demographics
Population rose from 95,933 in the 2011 census to 138,257 in 2022, a 44% increase, among the biggest gains in the Garden Route District, concentrated mainly in Oudtshoorn town.
Afrikaans is the predominant home language across the Little Karoo’s farming and ranching communities.
Dysselsdorp has also grown steadily as a farmworker and residential town servicing the Oudtshoorn valley’s ostrich and lucerne farms.
Economy and Local Life
Ostrich farming, historically the region’s signature industry, still shapes Oudtshoorn’s economy alongside lucerne and other Little Karoo agriculture, with tourism drawn by the Cango Caves and ostrich show farms.
The biennial Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, held in Oudtshoorn, is one of South Africa’s largest Afrikaans arts events and draws visitors from across the country.
Dysselsdorp and the surrounding lucerne fields supply feed for the district’s ostrich and livestock farms, forming a support economy around Oudtshoorn’s better-known tourism industry.
De Rust, on the R62, has developed a small crafts and antiques trade catering to travellers on the scenic route between the Little Karoo and the Garden Route.
Getting There
The N12 links Oudtshoorn to Cape Town and Gqeberha; the R62 scenic route runs through De Rust toward Route 62. George Airport, over the Outeniqua Pass, is the nearest airport with scheduled flights.
FAQ
What is the seat of Oudtshoorn Local Municipality? Oudtshoorn.
How many people live in Oudtshoorn? 138,257 at the 2022 census, up from 95,933 in 2011.
Which district is Oudtshoorn in? The Garden Route District Municipality.
What towns are in Oudtshoorn? Oudtshoorn, Dysselsdorp and De Rust.
How big is Oudtshoorn? 3,540 km².
What is Oudtshoorn known for? Ostrich farming and the nearby Cango Caves.
What are the Cango Caves? A large dolomite cave system in the Swartberg foothills north of Oudtshoorn.
What language dominates in Oudtshoorn? Afrikaans, across the district’s farming towns.
How far is Oudtshoorn from George? Roughly 60 km north over the Outeniqua Pass.
What is Oudtshoorn’s biggest town? Oudtshoorn itself, the municipal seat, with 73,694 residents.
What is Dysselsdorp known for? A farming town supplying lucerne and livestock feed to the wider district.
Can you visit an ostrich farm near Oudtshoorn? Yes, several working show farms just outside town offer guided tours and rides.