Winter wanderings await in our quaint Karoo town…
The Karoo settles into something slower in winter. The light changes; not golden, but clean and pale, smoke curls from chimneys in the mornings and evenings and window panes frost over in the night. It’s the kind of season that makes you want to linger longer in museums, talk to strangers in shops, and order something warm at every stop.
Graaff-Reinet, cradled by the horseshoe bend of the Sundays River and watched over by stone spires and plains, lends itself to this slower winter pace.
Here are a few things to do in Graaff-Reinet in winter, when the days are short and the evenings call for something slow-cooked!
Settling In
There’s a kind of quiet luxury in staying put, and winter gives you permission to do just that.
At the Drostdy Hotel, you don’t have to chase the day – everything you need is already here. Sink into the warmth of a treatment at the Africology Spa, browse our shelves and walls in the library or art gallery or taste wine in the Wijnkamer, where rare bottles wait to be uncorked without ceremony. Our rooms, many set in restored heritage homes, are thick-walled and comforting; especially after a slow dinner at De Camdeboo Restaurant, where the food draws deeply from generations of perfected home cooking.
Think: Slow-cooked lamb, crusty bread and rich malva – all the good things for cold weather!
Now that we’ve gotten you settled in, let’s see what else awaits in town.
Things To Do In Graaff-Reinet in Winter
Visit Reinet House
The Graaff-Reinet Museum – or Reinet House – is a fantastic spot to visit in winter. The wooden floors creak underfoot, and the smell of polish and dust reminds you of just how long this building has been around. It once served as a Dutch Reformed Church parsonage, but is now home to a number of museum exhibits. Walk through slowly. Read the plaques and descriptions. Let the silence do most of the work.
Visit The Valley Of Desolation
In winter, the stark light makes these famous cliffs and crags look even more majestic and imposing. You might find yourself alone at the viewpoint, watching the dolerite columns reach skyward from the Camdeboo plains. Bring a thermos. Sit a while. The best time is late afternoon when the light comes in sideways and long-legged shadows fall across the valley. There’s nothing quite like the stillness of high ground in the off-season.
Step Into Art
While most art scenes contain an element of glamour, Graaff-Reinet’s art scene is set apart by its sincerity. The Hester Rupert Art Museum is housed in one of the oldest church buildings in South Africa! Inside, you’ll find works by South African artists that speak of place, politics, and the small things in between. Elsewhere in town, local galleries offer ceramics, photography and crocheted blankets made with love. Walk without a plan. You’ll find something.
Eat From The Pantry
Winter belongs to slow food. Roosterkoek still warm from the flames, lamb stew heavy with rosemary, thick-cut bread, red wine that warms you from the inside out. Stop at one of the delis in town to buy staples for your pantry – jams, pies, rusks and biltong. And back at Drostdy Hotel, the menu leans into what the season does best: Comfort, depth, and flavour without fuss. A seat by the fireplace doesn’t hurt either…
Marvel At The Milky Way
There are fewer sounds at night in Graaff-Reinet than in the city. This makes it easier to hear the owls, or nothing at all. If you head just beyond the last streetlight, the stars take over. No telescope needed – just a scarf, a heavy duty winter jacket and a stargazing app. (If you want to identify constellations.) You could drive a little way outside of town for less light pollution if you prefer. Otherwise, our hotel’s garden will do just fine.
Visit Graaff-Reinet’s New Fossil Centre
Did you know that the Karoo region holds the longest and most complete fossil timeline on Earth, stretching back to long before the dinosaurs? You can learn more about prehistoric times at our town’s newest museum, Karoo Origins: The Fossil Centre, just across the road from Drostdy Hotel. Inside you’ll discover everything from the world-famous Rubidge Fossil Collection to the ancestors of tortoises and lizards and the earliest mammal-like reptiles that eventually gave rise to us! This is an interactive and eye-opening experience for all ages, offering a rare chance to connect with the deep history of this extraordinary landscape.
For even more on winter stays in Graaff-Reinet, read one of our other blog posts titled Your Winter Stay At The Drostdy Hotel.
Image Credit: Instagram | karoooriginstfc
Stay With Us This Winter
The historic Drostdy Hotel is stitched into the fabric of Graaff-Reinet. Our rooms have thick walls that hold the warmth – with cosy finishes that make staying in the main event!
Whether you’ve come for museums, meals, or the silence of open space, you’ll find the best things to do in Graaff-Reinet close to your front door when you stay with us.
Browse our stay options here and secure your dates using our online booking platform. Alternatively, for a more personal touch, feel free to email our friendly reservations team at reservations@drostdy.co.za, who would be more than happy to assist you with the booking process!
We look forward to welcoming you and yours to Graaff-Reinet this winter.
