Charming and unique, Nieu Bethesda is a mountain village, 55km outside Graaff Reinet, nestled in a valley with the towering Compassberg Peak as a backdrop. The Compassberg, at over 2500m above sea level, is South Africa’s highest free-standing mountain. Established by the Dutch Reformed Church in 1875, Nieu Bethesda is best known for Helen Maartins’ iconic Owl House and some of the most memorable fossil discoveries of the last hundred years.
What to do in Nieu-Bethesda
Despite its size, Nieu-Bethesda has an array of attractions: visit the fascinating Owl House, discover fossils at the Kitching Fossil Centre, spend time with the Stone Folk of Ongeluksloot, follow the leivore, climb Compassberg, or just walk the quiet dirt roads of the village.
Marette se Bankie is a viewpoint overlooking the village of Nieu-Bethesda at ...
Nieu Bethesda has a working network of furrows, with water supplied daily ...
In 1875, a commission appointed by the Graaff-Reinet Dutch Reformed Church, purchased ...
The Gregg Price Art Gallery in Nieu-Bethesda was opened in December 2018. ...
The old watermill in Nieu-Bethesda was erected in 1860 by Mr B.J. ...
The Stone Folk is a new permanent outdoor installation of stone figures ...
Take a walk around the Nieu-Bethesda cemetery and see graves both ancient ...
Join Karoo360 in hiking to the three highest peaks in the Sneeuberg ...
The Sir Frederic Bridge (also called Jubileum Bridge) dates back to 22 ...
Situated in the picturesque town of Nieu-Bethesda, and home of the famous ...
Gather a different perspective of Nieu-Bethesda village life. Jakob van Staden has ...
The Nieu-Bethesda Camino is a 100km circular route that offers unique and varied views of the Karoo ...
Ganora Guest Farm is a sheep farm situated just outside Nieu Bethesda in the ...
This listing contains excerpts from The Art of Nieu-Bethesda by Chris Marais and Julienne ...
The area around Nieu Bethesda is good for either a leisurely ride ...
This lovely pass with its sweeping curves around the buttresses of the ...
Where to Stay
Whether you choose a relaxing farm stay complete with hiking, camping and mountain bike trails or any number of unique, quirky and charming town houses (including a converted water tower), you’re sure to be contented, comfortable and very welcome.
A bright, comfortable old Karoo house – Aandster is stylishly furnished, well ...
Sunshine pours into this spacious self-catering house on the northern edge of ...
Conveniently central, this Snug Cottage sleeps 3 and has all essentials. It ...
Discover the enchanting Riad Maroc in the heart of Nieu-Bethesda, where luxury ...
Outsiders has two stylish en-suite double rooms which are ideal for all ...
At The Bethesda, Ludolf and Carla Smit offer luxury accommodation in tranquil ...
The Owl House Backpackers offers you a clean, bright, welcoming home from ...
A circular double-storey with an interesting past, the Water Tower sits in ...
Small and self-contained, this cottage sits in a pleasant garden in the ...
Where to Eat
Karoo Food Experience
Established by Bruno Reolon, the pizzeria reflects Bruno’s eccentric Italian Swiss touch. Their ...
Explore the Town
The Owl House is known as the finest example of Outsider Art in South Africa and has inspired many artists to visit Nieu-Bethesda and more than a few to move to the tiny town, too. Martins created fantastic concrete sculptures around her house and yard, often of owls. To bring more light into her home, she embedded crushed glass into the walls and continued to build her artistic legacy until 1974 when she committed suicide due to failing eyesight. Playwright Athol Fugard wrote a play about her life called “The Road to Mecca” which was later filmed and, as the story of Helen Maartins’ fantastical house spread, visitors flocked to Nieu-Bethesda.
