Oudtshoorn Info
C.P. Nel Museum

C.P. Nel Museum

Apr 8, 2019

OUDTSHOORN ACTIVITIES

(IN TOWN)

C.P. NEL MUSEUM

THE MUSEUM

The Ostrich Feather Boom period at the beginning of the 20th Century allowed the local enthusiasts to build new schools in the area. This led British architect, Charles Bullock to open his office in Oudtshoorn in 1903. In the same year the Cape Superintendent of Education, Thomas Muir recommended they build a new boys school to replace the school of 1881. The plot was bought for £6000 (R12 000) and a building tender of £7850 (R15 700) was accepted. In 1907 this beautiful sandstone building was officially opened as the Boys High School. In 1907 a Dutch architect, Mr Johannes Egbertus Vixeboxse joined Bullock’s Oudtshoorn firm.

Over the years he too was responsible for a number of Oudtshoorn’s famous ostrich palaces. In 1912 the school hall (now Rembrandt Hall) was added. The hall had been designed by Vixseboxse in the true traditional New Republican style. The third role player in the CP Nel Museum saga is Charles Paul Nel, a military, businessman and collector of antiques. So valuable was his collection that by 1938 the collection had received full recognition from the Historical Monument Commission.

When he passed away in 1950 the newly constituted Board of Trustees took over administration of Nel’s collection. In 1963 when both Oudtshoorn boys’ and girls’ schools amalgamated, the 1903 school building was in such a state it was nearly demolished. Consequently as a result of a petition and intervention by former old boys, the building was saved. The old school building was made available for CP Nel’s collection. The collection was moved over and in 1972 the CP Nel Museum was officially opened in Bullock and Vixseboxse’s old school building.

In 1980 the building complex was declared a National Monument. Through the valiant efforts of a few old boys and other role players in Oudtshoorn the continued existence of the old school building and CP Nel’s valuable collection of 40 years back secured for the future.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Ostrich Feather Farming brought unparalleled prosperity to the Klein Karoo during the late nineteenth century. A legacy from this economic “boom” is the distinctive sandstone architecture, which includes the so-called ostrich feather manors. Quite a few have been preserved and declared as national monuments. The Museum represents some of the finest sandstone architecture in the Little Karoo.

The Tour

  • Ostrich Hall
  • Street Scene
  • Military
  • Store
  • Synagogue
  • N.A. Smit
  • Music Room
  • Bedroom
  • Dining Room
  • Transport
  • Natural History
  • School Hall

Get in Touch

Email Enquiry
Contact Details
Telephone: +27 72 742 2489
Email: office@cpnelmuseum.org.za
Website: www.cpnelmuseum.org.za

Entrance Fee

CHILDREN
Preschool: Free
Learners: R20
Students: R20

SCHOOL GROUPS

Greater Oudtshoorn Municipal Area:
Learners: Free
Educators: Free

Schools Outside the Greater Oudtshoorn Municipal Area:
Learners: R20
Educators: Free

ADULTS
Visitor – International Visitors (Incl SADC Nationals): R100
Visitor – South Africans (with ID): R50
Pensioners: R30

ADULT TOUR GROUP
Tour members: R50
Tour guide: Free

SAMA, FotM and ICOM members Free (must prove membership)

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Opening Hours

WE ARE OPEN ON:
Mondays – Fridays: 08:00 -16:00
Saturdays: 09:00 – 13:00
Sundays & Public Holidays: Closed

Address

3 Baron van Rheede Street
Oudtshoorn
6625

Cafe Brule

Cafe Brule

Mar 1, 2023

OUDTSHOORN Restaurants

Cafe Brule

Step into this charming little street-side café on Oudtshoorn’s main street for a coffee, a light lunch or a delectable slice of cake. Hop on their free Wi-Fi or sit back and watch the hustle and bustle of activity on the street. Café Brûlé has its own bakery, which means all the bread, cakes, sweets and treats are always freshly baked. They also sell a range of rusks, olives and jams daily – so grab a bottle or two for your pantry.

On the menu:
Coffee • Breakfast • Lunch • Drinks • Desserts • A variety of freshly-baked goods to go

Location:
Right beside the entrance of the Queen’s Hotel by BON Hotels, on Baron van Reede Street, next to the C.P. Nel Museum.

Get in Touch

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Office Hours

We are open for light meals:
07h00 – 19h00 (September – April)
07h00 – 17h00 (May – August)

Address

5 Baron van Reede Street,
Oudtshoorn,
Western Cape,
South Africa

Cango Woodfired Pizza’s

Cango Woodfired Pizza’s

Mar 26, 2019

OUDTSHOORN RESTAURANTS

(IN TOWN)

CANGO WOODFIRED PIZZA’S & TAKE AWAYS

Get in Touch

Email Enquiry
Contact Details
Telephone: +27 44 272 0708
Email: cangopizza@mweb.co.za
Website: www.cangopizza.co.za
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Opening Hours

We are open from:
Monday – Friday: 09:00 – 21:00
Saturday: 09:00 – 22:00

Address

PG Glass Building – Cnr. Tuin St. & Langenhoven Way
Oudtshoorn (previously St. Elmo’s)

Cape Karoo International

Cape Karoo International

Mar 27, 2019

OUDTSHOORN BUSINESS

CAPE KAROO INTERNATIONAL (PTY) ltd

Cape Karoo International
A STORY AS UNIQUE AS OUR PRODUCTS

Cape Karoo International (CKI), the result of a merger between Klein Karoo International and Mosstrich, is the world’s leading producer of ostrich leather, feathers and meat. Our rich history stretches back to the 1860’s when the commercial farming of ostriches originated in the Little Karoo. Today, CKI sustain thousands of jobs across various farms, two state-of-the-art tanneries, four ostrich and game abattoirs, and a feather processing facility. This new innovative company not only offers impeccable service and first-rate products, but also holds the confidence of over 200 ostrich farming-shareholders.

MEAT

Delicious Ostrich meat is well recognized as a healthy alternative red meat. Cape Karoo International is the world’s foremost producer of Ostrich meat. Our pre-grilled Ostrich range is available 12 months of the year, enabling us to develop a sustainable industry.

This range is seared for tenderness & juiciness, offering a convenient, high quality and food safety compliant product suitable for both retail as well as food service.

YIPS & YAPS:

NO ADDED PRESERVATIVES:

Yips & Yaps is suitable for all dogs due to its hypoallergenic properties with no added preservatives

100% OSTRICH

Comes from an export approved abattoir which sources raw material from export registered farms, both following the best animal welfare practices.

NATURAL DOG CHEWS:

Bleach & chemical free

HIGH IN PROTEIN:

Ostrich is naturally high in protein – refer to the pack nutritional information.

LOW IN FAT

Ostrich is naturally low in Fat, refer to nutritional information.

SHELF LIFE:

12 months – store in a cool dry place

LEATHER
Ostriches have been roaming the plains of the Southern Cape of South Africa for centuries. The high demand for ostrich feathers enabled the creation of an industry that has been in existence for almost 200 years. The ostrich industry is highly sustainable and a major job creator in a vast rural area.

In this unique and challenging industry, Klein Karoo International and Mosstrich Group (SCOT) merged to create Cape Karoo International. We are combining our decades of experience to effectively create and continuously support a secure and sustainable environment for our passionate farmers. Together we are committed to protect the environment, to optimize the health and safety of our employees and to create ever increasing job opportunities within a rural community.

Cape Karoo International is committed to ensure the continued supply of high-quality ostrich leather to our valued customer base around the world. We strive towards offering a wide range of finishes and colours that perfectly suit the specific needs of each of our respected customers.

FEATHERS

Today Ostrich feathers are probably most easily associated with the fun and extravagance of the Rio Carnival or the fantastic costumes of the Moulin Rouge in Paris. The fascination with this luxuriant plume actually started centuries ago.

Evidence exits that the people of Ancient Egypt traded in various ostrich products, with wall murals depicting triumphant Pharaohs claiming Ostriches from the conquered nations. Some of the most valued items were Ostrich feathers.

CAPE KAROO EMPORIUM

On the southern tip of Africa lies the town of Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world – where these majestic flightless birds have roamed the plains of this beautiful Klein Karoo district for centuries.

This arid, sunny environment is also known as the home of Cape Karoo International (Pty) Ltd, the world’s foremost producer of ostrich related products since 1945.

Cape Karoo International supplies more than 65% of all ostrich meat, leather, feathers and egg shell products found on international markets. The company is also a leader in the game leather industry of South Africa. At Cape Karoo International we are excited and passionate about ostrich products and wish to share this majestic bird’s natural beauty and exquisite qualities with you.

Via our exclusive Cape Karoo Ostrich Emporium we cater for world class markets in fashion and personal wear. Our collection of products bearing the “Blue Ostrich” trademark includes handmade and delicately precision-crafted fashion accessories, interior decorations, gifts and curios at affordable prices.

Get in Touch

Email Enquiry
Contact Details
Telephone: +27 44 203 6200
Email: enquiries@capekarooint.com
Website: www.capekarooint.com
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Office Hours

Emporium:
Monday to Friday: 07:30 – 17:00
Saturday: 08:00 – 13:00

Tel: 044 279 2127
Address: 15 Rademeyer Street
Website: www.capekarooshop.com

Cape Vultures

Cape Vultures

Apr 8, 2019

CAPE VULTURES

Cape vulture numbers have decreased drastically over the past years, and the total population is estimated at only 18 000 birds. Only about 100 birds, including 32 breeding pairs, occur in the Western Cape. Various factors are responsible for this decline, especially poisoning, electrocution, disturbance at breeding colonies, habitat loss and food shortage.

Vultures provide an invaluable service to farmers

  • They clean the veld of rotting carcasses, thereby preventing diseases such as anthrax and plagues of blowfly.
  • Vultures circling in the air provide farmers with a good indication of the locality of a dead animal. A post-mortem examination may then be carried out to prevent the spread of undesirable diseases.
  • The presence of vultures on a farm is an indicator that the environment is safe for wildlife and man.
  • Vultures have an important ecotourism value.

How you can help vultures

  • Vultures need good publicity for the free service they perform to farmers by cleaning carcasses and keepng the veld free from diseases. We can all help spread this message.
  • Farmers have a special responsibility with regard to the careful use of organophosphates and other poisons. Carcasses that have i)een recently treated with any chemical substance, either internally or externally, should be removed from the reach of vultures.
  • In areas where vultures still occur, uncontaminated carcasses may be left In the veld. Note that the Potberg vultures seem to prefer the small, white carcasses of sheep or goats to donkeys, cows and horses. The equation is simple: more food = more vultures.
  • Please report sightings of live, ringed or dead birds to the contact numbers below.

The Overberg Vulture Group

The Overberg Vulture Group is a working group of Cape Nature Conservation and aims to promote the conservation of vultures in the Overberg region through the active involvement of the community. The group is affiliated to the Vulture Study Group of the Endangered Wildlife Trust. Please contact Cape Nature Conservation at the numbers below if you would like to become involved.

Overberg District Office, tel. (028) 314-0062
De Hoop Nature Reserve, tel. (028) 542-1253/4
Potberg Centre, tel. (028) 542-1114/5