As the oldest town in the Eastern Cape and the fourth oldest town in South Africa, Graaff-Reinet is steeped in history. With more than 220 listed heritage sites, some might even say that South Africa’s very story is written across the face of our picturesque Karoo town.

While the area surrounding Graaff-Reinet has long been inhabited by the Khoisan peoples of South Africa, the town itself was founded in 1786. It was named after the then-governor of the Cape Colony, Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff and his wife, Cornelia Reinet – their surnames side-by-side ever since.

Here is our round up of 10 Unique Activities in Graaff-Reinet to keep you enthralled during your stay at Drostdy Hotel!

But First…

The Tourism Office should be your first port of call when visiting Graaff-Reinet (17 Church Street). Located in the Old Library Museum, it’s here where you’ll be able to pick up a walking map of town, purchase passes to various museums, view inspiring artwork from the area and find out what’s happening in town during your stay.

10 Unique Activities in Graaff-Reinet

1. The Valley of Desolation
   Activity: Watch the sunrise
   
   Located in the Camdeboo National Park, the Valley of Desolation’s lookout point is only 14 km from Drostdy Hotel.
   Towering cliffs and striking columns of Dolerite rock rise from the valley floor, commanding attention as they reach heights of 120 metres or more.
   
   This landscape was shaped over the span of 100 million years. For those who love putting things into perspective, this is a wonderful place to watch the sunrise with a flask of coffee.
   
2. Museums
   Activity: Meander about and take in our town’s rich culture and history
   
   Step back through time and visit one of the many engaging museums in town. Depending on your period of interest, artifacts and stories date back as far as the Khoi-San.
   Add some of these museums to your itinerary!
   
   The Old Library Museum: Dating back to 1886, The Old Library Museum showcases the rich cultural heritage of Graaff-Reinet through fascinating exhibits ranging from local history to natural sciences.
   
   Reinet House Museum: An impeccably preserved Georgian mansion built in 1812. Explore the elegant rooms filled with period furnishings, artworks, and artifacts, offering a glimpse into the lives of early colonial settlers.
   
   The Military History Museum: Delve into South Africa’s military past at The Military History Museum, which features a diverse collection of exhibits spanning various conflicts and military campaigns, including artifacts, weaponry, and insightful displays.
   
   The Hester Rupert Art Museum: Celebrating our region’s vibrant artistic heritage, The Hester Rupert Art Museum showcases a captivating array of contemporary and traditional artworks by local and national artists.
   
   The Urquhart House Museum: Explore the history of Graaff-Reinet’s Jewish community at The Urquhart House Museum, housed in a charming 19th-century building. Discover fascinating displays chronicling the contributions and experiences of the local Jewish population, offering unique insights into our town’s multicultural tapestry.
   
   
   Insider tip: The Drostdy Hotel will soon be launching a package focused on museums. Get in touch with our reservations team at info@drostdy.co.za to discover more about museum tours!
3. Dutch Reformed Church
   Activity: Marvel at the architecture and snap a picture
   
   You’ll likely spot Graaff-Reinet’s Dutch Reformed Church as soon as you drive into town. With its grand Cape Dutch design and scale, it is a very popular wedding destination that draws couples from across the country.
   Get a little closer and take your time marveling at the building’s details. Outside of service hours, you might even like to take a look around inside.

4. Camdeboo National Park
   Activity: Spot the endangered Cape mountain zebra
   
   Visit the Camdeboo National Park and explore our region’s diverse landscapes, from rugged mountains and expansive plains to dramatic valleys.
   The park is a favourite among hikers, mountain-bikers and those looking for a picturesque place to enjoy a picnic. For a hassle-free sundowners, book a picnic basket through The Drostdy Hotel and we’d be happy to put something scrumptious together on your behalf.
   Here you’ll also encounter iconic wildlife like black wildebeest and the endangered Cape mountain zebra.
   
   

5. Nqweba Dam
   Activity: Birding
   
   Not only is Nqweba Dam an essential water source for Graaff-Reinet, it is also the perfect spot for twitchers to station themselves for a day of bird-watching!
   Visitors are also allowed to picnic along the shore or go canoeing from the boat club’s spillway.

6. Visit shops and delis
   Activity: Stock your pantry
   
   If the Karoo is known for anything, it’s for its warm hospitality and delicious food that speaks to the heartland’s bounty.
   Therefore, you can’t leave town without stocking up on essentials for your pantry. We’re talking rusks, jams, preserves, biltong, frozen cuts of meat, hearty pies, homemade ginger beer, old-fashioned sweets and every type of tea biscuit – from custard-flavoured shortbread to Hertzoggies. (If you don’t know what these are, you’ll have to trust us and give them a try!)
   
   

There are many farm stalls and specialty grocers in and around town. We suggest walking around town on foot to discover these Graaff-Reinet gems.

7. Nieu-Bethesda
   Activity: Discover fossils and The Owl House
   
   A 50 km drive will deliver travellers to the fascinating hamlet of Nieu-Bethesda, home of The Owl House, where the famous South African artist Helen Martins lived and died.
   It’s well worth taking this beautiful trip off the beaten track (Nieu-Bethesda has gravel roads and no street lights – by choice), where a warm welcome will have you feeling right at home.
   Niue-Bethesda is also something of a fossil hotspot. You can take a deep dive into the prehistoric at the Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre or on Ganora Guest Farm, where sheep farmer and fossil enthusiast JP Steynberg would be happy to show you his extensive personal collection – including the famous Ganora fish!
   
   

8. Afrikanis Rum Tasting Room
   Activity: Taste rum from Africa
   
   Craft gin distilleries have taken the South African market by storm, but don’t discount the other spirits!
   When you visit the Afrikanis Rum Tasting Room, you will be transported to a place that celebrates all that it means to be a traveller under the vast African sky – the sights, the sounds and, most importantly, the flavours.
   
   Visit their website or contact Dawid de Wet directly (dawid@afrikanis.co.za) to arrange a tasting.
   
   

9. Restaurants
   Activity: Sample the best Karoo food
   
   While our in-house restaurant, De Camdeboo, is a favourite among patrons looking to enjoy traditional and contemporary Karoo food, there are a number of other eateries in town worth visiting.

• Our Yard Restaurant
• Hello You Restaurant
• Frontiers
• The Colstream Restaurant
  
  Our front desk team would be happy to offer recommendations if you don’t know where to start.
  
  

10. Obesa Nursery
    Activity: Buy a succulent for your collection
    
    Obesa Nursery evolved from a hobby into a flourishing  sanctuary for cacti and succulents.
    The estate spans about 10 hectares and is home to over 7 000 plant species, 80% of which can be bought, while the rest are kept for conservation or propagation purposes.
    Visit this astonishing nursery at 49 Murray Street in Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, to see every variation of the desert’s hardiest and most beautiful plants.
    
    

Bonus: Samara Karoo Reserve
Activity: See The Big Five

Samara Karoo Reserve is only 35km away from The Drostdy Hotel and is one of the most unique places to see the Big Five in South Africa – right in the heart of the Great Karoo.

Not only is the reserve breathtakingly beautiful, but it is also home to one of the most ambitious rewilding programmes in our country’s recent history.

Discover the full story on their website and add this unique activity to to your Graaff-Reinet adventure.

Note: We are in the final stages of finalising a Samara/Drostdy Package to thrill our prospective guests with the very best of what the Karoo has to offer. Keep an eye on our social media pages for more information in the lead-up to this exciting partnership.

Graaff-Reinet Accommodation

Here at Drostdy Hotel, we have a storied history of our own. We hope you’ll immerse yourself in the many tales housed between our walls and make the most of our central location to explore as much of Graaff-Reinet on foot as possible. It’s at times like these when a town truly reveals its character to you and we just know you’ll find magic during your explorations.

To book your stay with us, email our reservations team at info@drostdy.co.za or book directly via our website.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Karoo!