Oppi Dam Resort

South Africa’s so vast it can be a bit of a trek to get from one attraction to the other: not so at Oppi Dam Resort, where a nicely nifty lot of stuff to see and do is within pleasingly easy reach. It’d be burying your head in the sand to be anywhere near Oudtshoorn and not have a look at its thriving ostrich trade, established since the mid 19th century and home to the world's largest ostrich population. One ostrich farm is within walking distance of the resort at 900 metres away; another is 20 minutes’ drive south, and the C.P. Nel Museum telling the tale of the local trade is within 15 minutes at Oudtshoorn. Feathery souvenirs? But of course: run along to the Ostrich Emporium, also in Oudtshoorn, for feathers, leathers and decorated eggs. To see other South African animals, Cango Wildlife Ranch is a 10-minute drive south on the way to Oudtshoorn, and has over 90 species, a kids’ zone, animal encounters and restaurants. Or investigate the more ancient side of South Africa with a subterranean adventure at Cango caves, a 15-minute drive in the other direction, or a half-hour drive east to the Rust-en-Vrede Waterfall, between the two Swartberg nature reserves.