Winter has come and gone, and we’ve been busy putting together new experiences for you in time for spring!

As the days get longer and our beloved jacarandas dust the roads in purple blossoms, there is an energy to this time of year that is contagious! It calls us all outside – to the pool, the garden and the parks.

Luckily, Graaff-Reinet has plenty of nature to go around, and Drostdy Hotel is perfectly positioned to place you at the heart of all this season has to offer. Including the many treats that await you inside our historic walls.

If your last visit to Drostdy Hotel feels like a while ago, this is your sign to book a return trip.

A Tasting Experience Designed for the Little Ones

We are excited to present our brand new Kids Tasting Experiences this season – and judging by their reactions so far, the little ones are excited too.

Three themed tastings, each designed to make dining at Drostdy Hotel a proper event for younger guests.

• The Summer Tasting (R140) brings biscuits, milkshakes and lawn games.
• The Luxury Tasting (R160) steps it up with mini pizza, hot chocolate and face painting.
• The Karoo Tasting (R175) goes full Karoo with kudu strips, a Wagyu burger and a colouring book to take home with you.

For families looking for things to do in Graaff-Reinet with children, this one is worth booking.

Find out more here.

Lunch by the Pool: The Poolside Menu at De Camdeboo

Nothing says spring time like lunch by the pool.

We are always updating our poolside offerings, and this season’s menu is made up of light, easy bites designed to tide you over between breakfast and dinner – without having to give up your lounger or put down your book.

And then there are the cocktails. From spritzes to sangrias, order a round for yourself and your friends!

Platters and refreshments are available outside too, which means a full, lazy afternoon by the pool is yours to enjoy.

Something Unexpected: The Rocco Torro Agave Tasting

Not many hotels can say that a world-class agave spirit is made right on their doorstep. We can.

Rocco Torro is a 100% premium agave distillery based in Graaff-Reinet, and this spring we are hosting an in-hotel tasting experience. Three expressions – a Blanco, a Reposado aged in French Oak, and a Reposado aged in American Oak – each poured in order and all accompanied by a small food pairing plate to keep things interesting between sips.

This is a proper, considered tasting, not a party trick. If you have ever wanted to understand what makes a great agave spirit, this is a great place to start!

The De Camdeboo Wijnkamer: Now Online

If you have ever left Drostdy Hotel wishing you had bought another bottle from the Wijnkamer, we have good news.

The De Camdeboo Wijnkamer is now online at wine.drostdy.co.za, the same curated selection of South Africa’s finest wines, including bottles from the Rupert family estates, available to browse and order from wherever you are. For guests staying with us, the online shop is a natural extension of the in-person tasting experience. For everyone else, it is a direct line to one of the Karoo’s best-stocked wine collections without leaving the couch.

Subscribe for 10% off your first order.

Africology Spa: Treatments for Spring

After a long winter, your skin deserves a little attention.

Our onsite Africology Spa is built around South Africa’s leading natural skincare brand, using indigenous ingredients like Rooibos, Aloe Ferox, Marula and African Potato.

Three treatments we think are particularly well-suited to spring:

• The Rose Quartz Facial (R1100 | 1 hour) is for anyone whose skin has had enough of winter. Rose quartz, Africology’s award-winning rose serum, and a bit of time is all it takes to get your glow back.
• The Full Body Polish (R650 | 45 minutes) is spring cleaning for your skin. A full body exfoliation that leaves you feeling lighter and brighter. A great starting point, or pair it with a massage and make an afternoon of it.
• The Signature Soul of the Karoo Experience (R1 690 | 90 minutes) is our favourite on the menu and the one most worth travelling for. A back exfoliation, heated aromatic mud, and a full body massage – named for this landscape, and true to it.

All of the above can be paired with time spent in our Himalayan Salt Sauna, either before or after your treatment, as a complimentary extra.

You do not need to be staying with us to book a treatment. Send an email to africology@drostdy.co.za or browse the full spa menu here.

Plan Your Spring Visit

If any of the above has caught your attention, our reservations team would be glad to help you put something together. Whether you are planning a full stay or just coming in for a tasting or a treatment, Graaff-Reinet in spring is worth the trip.

Get in touch at reservations@drostdy.co.za or browse our rooms and packages here.

We look forward to welcoming you to Graaff-Reinet this season!

FAQs

1. What is there to do in Graaff-Reinet in spring?

Graaff-Reinet comes into its own in spring. The jacarandas are in bloom, the days are warm, and the Camdeboo National Park is at its most active for game viewing. At Drostdy Hotel specifically, spring brings a poolside lunch menu, kids’ tasting experiences, a Rocco Torro agave tasting, Africology Spa treatments, and the De Camdeboo Wijnkamer’s online wine shop. The Valley of Desolation, the town’s museums and galleries, and the surrounding Karoo landscape are all on the doorstep.

2. Is Drostdy Hotel suitable for families with young children?

Yes, very much so. The hotel has wide lawns, a pool, and room service. This spring, we have introduced three themed Kids Tasting Experiences — the Summer, Luxury and Karoo tastings — each designed to keep younger guests entertained with child-friendly food, drinks and activities including face painting, puzzle building and lawn games. The Africology Spa also offers a dedicated kids’ treatment menu for children 12 and under. Find out more here.

3. Can non-overnight guests use the Africology Spa at Drostdy Hotel?

Yes. The Africology Spa is open to both hotel guests and day visitors. Booking is essential, and we recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before your appointment. To book, contact our spa team at africology@drostdy.co.za.

4. How do I book a wine tasting at Drostdy Hotel?

Wine tastings can be booked through our reservations team at reservations@drostdy.co.za. Kindly note they are done by appointment only – we cannot accept walk-in tastings.