Bontebok National Park near Swellendam
The Bontebok National Park is an extraordinary conservation success story.
Oudtshoorn
We visited Oudtshoorn to spend time with a relative. There are plenty of restaurants in the town but we particularly enjoyed lunch at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge, which I highly recommend. Oudtshoorn was founded c.1847 and named after Baron Pieter van Rheede van Oudtshoorn (1714-73), a Governor-Designate … Continued
Graaff Reinet to Oudtshoorn
It was going to be another very hot day and so we set off early to drive the 329 kms from Graaff Reinet to Oudtshoorn.
The Owl House in Nieu Bethesda
Nieu Bethesda is hidden in the Great Karoo and perhaps best known for The Owl House so I planned a circular drive from Graaff Reinet. Google Maps said 119 kms and 2.25 hours but did not mention the potholed dirt road and almost complete lack of signposts!
Historic Buildings in Graaff Reinet
There are three buildings of which Graaff Reinet is particularly proud: The Drostdy, The Town Hall, and the Dutch Reformed Church. Just remember the town has over 200 historic buildings! The Drostdy Hotel was designed by Louis Michel Thibault and built 1804-06. … Continued
The Art Museum, Graaff Reinet
The Hester Rupert Art Museum (1821) is a beautiful building on the main road in Graaff Reinet, with some wonderful works of art. Do not miss this museum if you are in the town. Dr Anton Rupert (1916-2006), an extraordinary man, was born in … Continued
The Old Library, Graaff Reinet
The Old Library is the fourth building in the Graaff Reinet Museum Complex.
The Old Residency, Graaff Reinet
The land on which The Old Residency stands was first bought by Willem Janssens in 1801 and the house was built in 1819 by Johannes Gerber. The house changed hands several times and was eventually bought by the Rubidge family in 1855. It … Continued
Urquhart House, Graaff Reinet
Urquhart House was built sometime between 1806-21 on land belonging to Johan Hendrik Greyling in the Cape Dutch style, with a prominent anchor and stars on the front gable. Incredibly, the reason for these decorations is unknown. The building became the … Continued
Reinet House, Graaff Reinet
On our first day in Graaff Reinet we launched ourselves into The Graaff Reinet Museum which is housed in four historic buildings: Reinet House, Urquhart House, The Old Library, and The Old Residency. Reinet House, built in 1812 on an H-plan, … Continued