Before the explosion of (bouldering mostly) climbing in The Cederberg, Montagu, in particular, was the vangaurd of sport climbing in the Western Cape. Later, Oudtshoorn was developed and is, to date, our only developed Limestone climbing in South Africa. Similarly, Calitzdorp is the only Conglomerate climbing currently in the Republic.
The winters are crisp and great for friction - this, coupled with the area's resistance to the winter rain of Cape Town make The Little Karoo a prime location from April to September. Summer climbing is certainly possible (many a December vacation has been enjoyed in Oudtshoorn) with prudent scheduling of activities in the cool hours.
The Little Karoo is separated from the Great Karoo by the Swartberg Mountain range. Geographically, it is a 290-km-long valley, 40–60 km wide, formed by two parallel Cape Fold Mountain ranges, the Swartberg to the north, and the Langeberg-Outeniqua range to the south.
The northern strip of the valley, within 10–20 km from the foot of the Swartberg mountains is least karoo-like, in that it is a well-watered area both from the rain and the many streams that cascade down the mountain, or through narrow defiles in the Swartberg from the Great Karoo. The main towns, of climbing or adventure importance, in the region are situated along this northern strip of the Little Karoo: Montagu, Barrydale, Ladismith, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn.
The region carries a 4 star trad rating, but, it is worth noting that Lost World (which brings the accolades to the region) is currently sensitive / restricted access.
Geology of the Little Karoo
The valley is an integral part of the Cape Fold Mountain Belt, with the two ranges on either side composed of extremely hard, erosion-resistant, quartzitic sandstone belonging to the 450- to 510-million-year-old Table Mountain Group (i.e. the oldest layer of the Cape Supergroup).
The Little Karoo contains two other geological features that give the landscape a special character. These "Enon Conglomerates", as they are known, were deposited by high energy, fast flowing rivers,[14] and are found between Calitzdorp and Oudtshoorn, where they form the strikingly red "Redstone Hills".
The second special geological feature that marks the Little Karoo is the 300-km-long fault line along the southern edge of the Swartberg Mountains. The Swartberg Mountains were lifted up along this fault, to such an extent that in the Oudtshoorn region, the rocks that form the base of the Cape Supergroup are exposed. These are locally known as the Cango Group, composed of limestone, into which an underground stream has carved the impressively extensive Cango Caves.
Montagu
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