Key Takeaways
- Route 62 is the scenic inland alternative to the coastal N2, billed as the longest wine route in the world, running through the Klein Karoo from Montagu to Oudtshoorn.
- It is a wine-lover’s dream — Rooiberg’s awarded cellars and Calitzdorp, the ‘port capital of South Africa’ — dotted with farm stalls.
- The quirky towns are half the charm: Montagu’s rock formations, bohemian Barrydale, and the legendary (family-safe) Ronnie’s Sex Shop roadside pub.
- Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world, anchors the eastern end with ostrich farms, the Cango Wildlife Ranch and the magnificent Cango Caves.
- Dramatic passes — the gravel Swartberg Pass and hidden Seweweekspoort — make the drive a photographer’s dream.
- It pairs perfectly with the Garden Route for a grand Cape loop — mountain and vineyard one way, ocean and forest the other.
What Is Route 62 and Why Drive It
Running inland between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn, Route 62 is the scenic, soulful alternative to the coastal N2 — and one of the most characterful road trips in South Africa. Billed as the longest wine route in the world, it threads through the semi-arid landscapes of the Klein Karoo, over dramatic mountain passes and through a string of quirky little towns where time seems to slow. Where the Garden Route is all ocean and forest, Route 62 is mountains and vineyards, farm stalls and dusty main streets, port cellars and ostrich farms — a completely different, utterly captivating side of the Cape.
Travellers drive Route 62 for its wine, its scenery and its wonderful eccentricity. This is the land of hand-painted signs and roadside legends like Ronnie's Sex Shop, of Montagu's rock formations and Calitzdorp's sweet ports, of the Cango Caves and the ostrich farms of Oudtshoorn. It pairs perfectly with the Garden Route to form a grand loop — coast one way, Karoo the other. This guide sets out the finest stops, the best cellars and the ideal itinerary for one of the Cape's great inland journeys.
The Scenic Alternative to the Coast
Route 62 takes its name from the old R62 road, and runs roughly from the Cape Winelands town of Montagu, through Barrydale, Ladismith, Calitzdorp and up to Oudtshoorn, with the great mountains of the Swartberg and the Klein Karoo plains on either side. It is a drive of huge horizons and clear light, where the vineyards cluster along the rivers and the semi-desert stretches away to blue mountain ranges. The passes — among them the dramatic gravel Swartberg Pass and the hidden Seweweekspoort — are engineering marvels and photographers' dreams.
The great appeal of Route 62 is its pace. There are no crowds and no rush; the towns are tiny, the roads are quiet, and the pleasure is in stopping — for a wine tasting, a farm-stall pie, a photograph of a mountain, a chat with a local. It rewards the unhurried traveller, and it makes the ideal inland leg of a Cape loop, giving your journey a completely different landscape and mood from the green coast of the Garden Route.
The Wine — Rooiberg, Calitzdorp Port & the Cellars
Route 62 is, above all, a wine route — and a superb, unpretentious one. The cellars here are friendly, great value and often set against spectacular mountain backdrops. Rooiberg, near Robertson at the western end, is one of the best-known and most awarded, a large cooperative pouring an excellent range in a relaxed tasting room. All along the route, small family estates welcome visitors for tastings of robust Karoo reds, crisp whites and the region's specialities.
The undisputed jewel is Calitzdorp, the ‘port capital of South Africa’, where the hot, dry climate mirrors Portugal's Douro Valley and produces some of the finest port-style wines outside Europe. A tasting of Cape ‘port’ in a Calitzdorp cellar, perhaps with local cheese and preserves, is a Route 62 highlight. Between the estates lie farm stalls selling dried fruit, olives, cheeses and home-baked treats — the Klein Karoo's larder — making every stretch of the drive a small feast.
Related journey: Cape Winelands Golf Safari — 7 Days →
The Quirky Towns — Montagu, Barrydale & Ronnie's
The towns of Route 62 are half its charm. Montagu, at the western gateway, is a gem of Cape Dutch and Victorian architecture set among dramatic red rock formations, famous for its hot springs, rock climbing and hiking. Barrydale, a little further on, is a bohemian slow-town of artists, a well-loved farm-style hotel and a growing food-and-wine scene — the perfect overnight stop midway along the route.
And then there is Ronnie's Sex Shop — perhaps the most photographed roadside stop in South Africa. Originally ‘Ronnie's Shop’, a prankster added the word ‘Sex’ overnight and a legend was born; today it is a wonderfully irreverent roadside pub and grill festooned with memorabilia, an essential (and family-safe, despite the name) Route 62 pit stop for a cold drink and a photograph. These towns and stops give Route 62 a personality all its own — warm, quirky and utterly memorable.
Oudtshoorn — Ostriches & the Cango Caves
The eastern anchor of Route 62 is Oudtshoorn, the ‘ostrich capital of the world’. In the Victorian ostrich-feather boom this small Karoo town grew fabulously wealthy, and its grand ‘feather palaces’ still stand. Today the ostrich farms are a highlight for every traveller: feed and get close to the world's largest birds, learn their extraordinary story, and — for the brave — even ride one. Nearby, the Cango Wildlife Ranch lets families meet cheetahs, crocodiles and lemurs up close.
Just outside town lie the magnificent Cango Caves, one of the world's great show caves — a vast system of dripstone chambers hung with stalactites and stalagmites, explored on guided tours ranging from the easy ‘Standard’ walk to the squeeze-through ‘Adventure’ route. Oudtshoorn is the natural meeting point of Route 62 and the Garden Route: from here the Outeniqua Pass drops down to George and the coast, closing the loop between mountain and sea.
Related journey: Garden Route Safari Experience — 12 Days →
The Perfect Route 62 Itinerary
Route 62 is best enjoyed over two to four days, either as a journey in its own right or as the inland leg of a Cape loop. A classic approach is to drive out from Cape Town along Route 62 — a night in Montagu or Barrydale, a night in Calitzdorp or Oudtshoorn for the wine, caves and ostriches — then cross the Outeniqua Pass to George and return along the coastal Garden Route. This gives you two utterly different landscapes in one seamless trip.
With more time, add the gravel Swartberg Pass and the remote beauty of Prince Albert on the far side, or a malaria-free safari in the Little Karoo at Sanbona. The driving is easy — all tarred on the main route — and the distances are gentle, so the pleasure is in lingering. We plan Route 62 as part of a grand Cape loop, book the characterful guesthouses and wine estates, and weave in the caves, ostriches and cellars for a road trip of real character.
Related journey: Botlierskop Garden Route Safari — 3 Days →
| Stop | Nights | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Montagu | 1 | Rock formations, hot springs, Cape Dutch charm — the western gateway. |
| Barrydale | 1 | Slow-town artists, farm hotel, Ronnie's Sex Shop nearby. |
| Calitzdorp | 1 | The port capital — tastings of Cape port-style wines. |
| Oudtshoorn | 1–2 | Ostriches, Cango Caves, Cango Wildlife Ranch, feather palaces. |
From Oudtshoorn the Outeniqua Pass drops down to George and the coast — close the loop by returning along the Garden Route for two completely different journeys in one.
Best Time to Drive Route 62
The Klein Karoo has a semi-arid climate of hot summers and cool, clear winters. Spring (September to November) is glorious, with wildflowers, warm days and cool nights — arguably the finest time to drive Route 62. Autumn (March to May) brings the grape harvest, comfortable temperatures and golden light, ideal for wine tasting and photography.
Summer (December to February) can be very hot inland — pleasant with a cellar and a pool but demanding at midday — while winter (June to August) is cool, crisp and quiet, with dramatic light on the mountains and the occasional snow on the high passes. The roads are good year-round; simply carry water in summer and warm layers in winter, and avoid the gravel passes in heavy rain.
Why Plan Your Route 62 Trip With Us
Route 62 rewards those who know where to stop — and after years of driving it, we do. We know which cellars pour the finest ports, which farm stall bakes the best pie, which guesthouse in Barrydale or Calitzdorp has the most character, and which pass to time for golden light. We are a South African, owner-run specialist, and we plan Route 62 as the soulful inland half of a grand Cape loop, stitched seamlessly to the Garden Route coast and, if you wish, a malaria-free Little Karoo safari.
Because we book direct with the guesthouses, estates and attractions, we secure the best rooms and add the touches — a private cellar tasting, a guided cave tour, a table at the right restaurant — that make the trip. All you do is drive the great road, taste the wine and let the Klein Karoo work its quirky, beautiful magic.
Ready to Drive Route 62 & the Klein Karoo?
Our specialists design tailor-made Route 62 and Klein Karoo journeys — the world's longest wine route through Montagu, Barrydale, Calitzdorp and Oudtshoorn, paired with the Garden Route coast and, if you wish, a malaria-free Little Karoo safari. We book direct, secure the most characterful guesthouses and cellars, and handle every detail so all you do is drive and taste.
