The Karoo has a way of getting under your skin. Wide skies, clean air, and a pace of life that reminds you what a holiday is supposed to feel like. Graaff-Reinet is the perfect place to experience it, and with family in tow, it only gets better.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: There is no place like the Karoo. What feels like an impossibly vast landscape will burrow its way into your heart and have you returning here, time after time, simply to breathe in the fresh air and fill your cup.
Drostdy Hotel sits at the heart of one of South Africa’s most storied towns, and it makes an ideal base for a family getaway. The lawns are big (perfect for energetic little ones to run around on), the pool is inviting, and De Camdeboo Restaurant is the kind of place where children are always welcome at the table.
Beyond the hotel gates, there is more to see and do in Graaff-Reinet than most visitors expect.
Here is our guide to making the most of it.
Start Where You Are
Once you arrive, why rush to be somewhere else? One of the great pleasures of a family stay at Drostdy Hotel is that the property itself keeps everyone happy for a good stretch of the day.
While the little ones run laps of the lawn, explore the safely enclosed property and splash in the pool (weather-dependent), the grown-ups can settle into breakfast at De Camdeboo Restaurant – a slow, unhurried affair with good coffee and a kitchen that does proper Karoo cooking to fuel your day of exploring.
We have a continental selection with hot breakfast options, which means there is guaranteed to be something to suit even the fussiest palate.
There’s plenty for younger guests to enjoy beyond breakfast, too. Drostdy’s themed kids’ tasting experiences pair child-friendly bites and drinks with activities such as face painting, puzzle building, colouring and lawn games. With Luxury, Karoo and Summer tastings to choose from, it’s a fun experience designed especially for little guests.
When everyone is ready, the town is waiting just beyond the front gates, and most museums, shops and restaurants are within walking distance.
Learn Something (Without It Feeling Like School)
With little ones, every day is an opportunity to learn, and the endless question, “Why?” proves how eager our children are to understand the world around them. We therefore recommend visiting at least a few of our town’s many museums, where learning is tactile and interactive.
Reinet House is a beautifully preserved Victorian homestead that gives a vivid sense of domestic life in the Karoo over a century ago. Take this chance to explain to your kids that there was a whole other way of living before iPhones, tablets or YouTube and watch their eyes widen in disbelief!
Image Credit: www.graaffreinetmuseums.co.za
For something more dramatic, the Karoo Origins Fossil Centre is a genuinely world-class exhibit, and it has dinosaurs. (Need we say more?) The fossils on display are among the finest examples of Permian-era prehistoric life in the southern hemisphere, and the fact that they were found right here in the Karoo makes them all the more extraordinary.
This is one of the latest offerings in town and, being located just across the street from us, one of our top recommendations for families looking for something to do. They’ve gone the extra mile to make it colorful, interesting and awe-inspiring for little ones. There is also an onsite eatery where you can grab a snack afterwards.
Get Outside
Graaff-Reinet is almost entirely surrounded by Camdeboo National Park and for families, it offers the perfect way to get outdoors and stretch your legs.
A game drive through the park is an excellent half-day activity. The park has no dangerous predators, but you can expect to see a variety of antelope like springbok, kudu, klipspringers, gemsbok, springbok, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, buffalo, and eland, as well as Cape mountain zebras and plenty of birdlife. The landscape itself is untouched, giving you and your family a great appreciation for what life here must have been like before the establishment of a town and modern amenities.
The Valley of Desolation is one of the most spectacular things to do in Graaff-Reinet and the wider Karoo. A short drive from town brings you to the viewpoint, where enormous dolerite columns rise from the valley floor in a formation that looks less like South Africa and more like the set of a Sci-Fi film.
Camdeboo National Park: Entry Information
A Gate Registration and Indemnity Form is required on entry. Bring a valid ID or passport to complete it at the gate.
Entry fees: SA Citizens and Residents: R52 per adult, R26 per child (2-12 years) | SADC Nationals (with valid passport) R104 per adult, R52 per child (2 -12 years) | International Citizens: R160 per adult, R80 per child (2-12 years)
Getting there: The park surrounds Graaff-Reinet and is accessible via two main routes: the N9 (Lakeview/Office entrance) or the R63 (Valley of Desolation entrance), which is only 4km from our front gate.
For something slower and closer to town, the Nqweba Dam is worth a visit, particularly if you’re a family of avid birders.
Gate times: Monday to Thursday from 7 am to 5 pm and Fridays from 7 am to 3 pm. Closed on weekends and public holidays. If you’re unsure, it’s always safest to phone ahead on +27 (0)49 892 3453and make sure there is someone to let you in.
And finally, don’t overlook the Obesa Cactus Nursery and Garden, a delightful oddity that houses one of the finest collections of succulents and cacti in the country, set in a garden that feels a bit prehistoric!
(Why not buy a small succulent for the kids to nurture at home as a reminder of your trip?)
Image Credit: Instagram | @gardens_walking_health
Where To Eat
De Camdeboo Restaurant at Drostdy Hotel is the natural anchor of any family stay, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a menu rooted in the best of Karoo cooking and a setting that works for every age. The lawns outside make it particularly suited to families with younger children who need a little room to move between courses.
For lunch in town, Coldstream Restaurant is a wonderful option. Situated in the shade of Norfolk Pine trees, here you can order delicious Malva pudding and gawk at one of South Africa’s most famous church buildings – the Dutch Reformed Church is a true architectural beauty!
For parents in need of some good, strong coffee, head to Maria’s Coffee for your daily dose of caffeine. Tucked into a serene open courtyard, it serves exceptional brews alongside a tempting breakfast menu, with a roastery, deli, art gallery and craft liquor store all sharing the same address.
A Little Further Afield: Nieu-Bethesda
If you have an extra half-day, the drive to Nieu-Bethesda is about 50 kilometres from Graaff-Reinet and well worth it. The village is one of the most atmospheric in the Karoo, and the Owl House (the home of the late artist Helen Martins, filled with her handmade sculptures, mirrors and glass) is one of those bucket list spots every South African simply must see to believe.
The wider town itself is fun to explore, with no tarred roads or streetlights (by residents’ choice) and a myriad of museums and restaurants to pop into.
If your kids like animals, here is a list of farms in the area with seasonal activities to keep them occupied:
Ganora Farm
- If there are any orphaned lambs during lambing season, kids can feed the “Hansies”
- Guests can watch farm activities like sheep shearing, wool baling, or livestock herding, depending on the season
- There is a small rehabilitation centre on the farm, where they take care of animals like meerkats and ground squirrels before releasing them back into the wild
- Join fossil walks exploring 250-million-year-old finds
- View San rock art
- Explore hiking and biking trail
Learn more here.
Tot Hier Toe Farmstall
- Feed farm animals (Pellets are available for approx. R20 per portion)
- There is a kiddies play area if they need to blow off some steam while you eat Karoo classics like potjiekos and roosterkoek for lunch
More information can be found here.
Kareelaagte Guest Farm
- Interact with and feed friendly farm animals
Be sure to phone ahead at +27 82 822 5311.
Stay With Us
Graaff-Reinet is one of those places that rewards those who give it time. A weekend is a start; three or four nights lets you settle in properly, fall into the pace of the town, and discover that the things to do in Graaff-Reinet are far more varied than you expected.
Drostdy Hotel has rooms to suit families of every configuration. To check availability or ask our reservations team anything at all, reach us at reservations@drostdy.co.za or book your dates yourself via our seamless online booking platform.
We look forward to welcoming your family to Graaff-Reinet.
