The Karoo town of Graaff-Reinet is steeped in both ancient and modern history, surrounded almost entirely by the Camdeboo National Park. Visitors are immediately enchanted by its wide, tree-lined streets, historical buildings and endless vistas from the Valley of Desolation across the town and the plains of Camdeboo.
Graaff-Reinet has one of the most attractive settings of any town in South Africa, mountains on three sides and the flat plains of the Camdeboo to the south. Few towns have conserved their townscape as well as Graaff-Reinet.
Graaff-Reinet Museums
Graaff-Reinet’s museums offer a fascinating glimpse into the town’s rich heritage — from early settler life and local art to natural history and Karoo culture. Housed in beautifully preserved buildings, these museums collectively tell the story of one of South Africa’s oldest towns
The foundation stone for this building was laid on 24 April 1821 ...
On 26 June 1902 the foundation stone of the new Town Hall ...
While limited privately sponsored library facilities were available in Graaff-Reinet from about ...
The Military History Museum is the most recent addition to the Graaff-Reinet ...
The brand new Karoo Origins – The Fossil Centre in Graaff-Reinet is ...
The old Gunpowder Magazine was constructed on the crest of a barren ...
The former Residency, situated diagonally opposite Reinet House at the end of ...
The Graaff-Reinet Museum or “Reinet House”, formerly a Dutch Reformed Church parsonage, ...
The large erf at the southern extremity of Market Square, on which ...
What else to do in Graaff-Reinet
Graaff-Reinet is popular with wildlife enthusiasts, birders and history and culture enthusiasts who can enjoy walking tours of the town, hiking in the national park and Big Five game viewing at nearby game reserves.
This lovely pass with its sweeping curves around the buttresses of the ...
On 26 June 1902 the foundation stone of the new Town Hall ...
Karoo360 is a tour operator based in Graaff-Reinet that offers unique local ...
4×4 and dirt road routes for both vehicles and motorcycles: follow Karoo360 ...
Camdeboo Adventure Tours in Graaff-Reinet offers the following: Valley of Desolation – ...
Every Saturday at 7:00am (October – March) & 8:00am (April – September). ...
Graaff Reinet’s first recorded church was in Church Street. Building of a ...
Koedoeskloof The Koedoeskloof 4×4 Trail provides a 7-kilometre drive to the top ...
Join Karoo360 in hiking to the three highest peaks in the Sneeuberg ...
Austin Roberts’ The Birds of South Africa was first published in 1940 ...
Graaff-Reinet is one of South Africa’s oldest towns and boasts approximately 220 ...
Near the roadside between Aberdeen and Graaff-Reinet, in the middle of the ...
Glen Harry Game Reserve, outside Graaff-Reinet, offers an exclusive African wilderness experience, ...
Behind the Reinet House Museum in Graaff-Reinet, visitors will find a Black ...
Discover a world of rugged beauty and thrilling trails. Get ready to ...
The Camdeboo National Park is a 19000ha gem in the Karoo Heartland ...
The Groot Kerk is one of Graaff-Reinet’s best-known landmarks, but the town ...
There’s a very interesting spot near Kendrew. It is the Kalkkop (“lime ...
The old Gunpowder Magazine was constructed on the crest of a barren ...
Located in the Camdeboo National Park outside Graaff Reinet, the Valley of ...
The Crag Lizard Trail Duration: 45 minutes Difficulty: For all ages Cost: ...
Where to Stay
As the oldest town in the Eastern Cape and the fourth oldest in South Africa, Graaff-Reinet has an interesting array of accommodation options ranging from beautifully restored town houses to the wilderness and luxury of big-five game reserves.
Karoopark Guest House is located in the heart of historical Graaff-Reinet, with ...
Nestled at the base of an amphitheatre of mountains within the Camdeboo ...
Hartland Huis offers sustainability-minded, activity-centred accommodation in the historic heart of Graaff-Reinet. ...
Samara Karoo Reserve offers an unforgettable safari experience for discerning travelers. Set ...
Villa Reinet is perfect for your much-needed break in the historic country ...
Karoo360 is a tour operator based in Graaff-Reinet that offers unique local ...
Glen Harry Game Reserve, outside Graaff-Reinet, offers an exclusive African wilderness experience, ...
Where to Eat
Everybody gets hungry, even when you visit Graff-Reinet
Tanya Kroon from Paardekraal Produce in Graaff-Reinet produces a selection of high-quality ...
Shopping in Graaff-Reinet
Want to take something home from Graaff-Reinet?
Explore the town
Graaff-Reinet has one of the most attractive settings of any town in South Africa, mountains on three sides and the flat plains of the Camdeboo to the south. Few towns have conserved their townscape as well as Graaff-Reinet. The town has more protected buildings than any other in South Africa. The most prominent of these is the Dutch Reformed Church which is a Victorian gothic gem. Other notable structures are the Old Drostdy, now the Drostdy Hotel, as well as several splendid examples of Cape Dutch, such as Reinet House, Urquhart House and the old Residency, now part of the Graaff-Reinet Museum.
The Valley of Desolation is Graaff-Reinet’s gem; a dramatic cleft in the ironstone rocks: sheer cliffs and precariously balanced columns of Dolerite rise 120 metres from the valley floor, against the timeless backdrop of the vast plains of the Camdeboo. This is the product of volcanic and erosive forces of nature over 100 million years.
