Graaff-Reinet
Posted on: 1 January 2022
Surrounded by natural splendour and rich in history, Graaff-Reinet features a wealth of fascinating and awe-inspiring attractions. The town is almost entirely surrounded by the Camdeboo National Park, which beckons guests to explore the wild.
There is striking beauty and serenity in the land’s vastness, and one of the most incredible vantage points from which to take this in is at the top of the Valley of Desolation, within the national park. This is a wondrous spot where sunsets over the plains of Camdeboo can be soaked in.
The region generously caters to those with adventurous spirits as mountain trails provide the opportunity for guided 4×4 trips, mountain biking and hiking. In addition, Graaff-Reinet provides ample opportunity for those with a love for history and culture to feel content. Amid the vast number of heritage sites within the town, there are a handful of museums that house memorabilia and photographs that depict the town’s interesting history. Artworks created by famous South African artists can be appreciated at the Hester Rupert Art Museum and films and live shows can be enjoyed at the John Rupert Theatre. Slightly further afield, in Nieu Bethesda, the Helen Martins Owl House Museum can be visited.
Other memorable experiences await at Graaff-Reinet’s Xhosa township, where various amenities can be visited and local cuisine can be enjoyed; at Obesa Nursery, where the largest cacti collection in the world can be viewed; or, quite simply, within the town itself, taking in the marvellous architecture that defines Graaff-Reinet.
