The fourth-oldest town in South Africa, Graaff-Reinet lies cradled in a bend of the Sundays River beneath the Sneeuberg Mountains. David Livingstone called it "the prettiest little town in all Africa," and more than a century later, it still captivates visitors with its remarkable concentration of historic buildings and dramatic Karoo landscapes.
With over 220 national monuments - more than any other town in South Africa - Graaff-Reinet is a living museum of Cape Dutch architecture. Through Spekboom, your accommodation booking directly supports local causes working to preserve this heritage and develop the community.
Valley of Desolation & Camdeboo
The Valley of Desolation attracts over 100,000 visitors annually, and one look at those 200-million-year-old dolerite columns explains why. This geological wonder, declared a National Heritage Site, sits within the Camdeboo National Park, which nearly encircles the town.
The 14,000-hectare reserve is home to mountain zebra, wildebeest, springbok, and gemsbok. The panoramic views from the Valley lookout point stretch across the entire Great Karoo - a landscape so vast it seems to curve with the earth.
Museums & Heritage
Graaff-Reinet's museum complex tells the story of the Karoo through fossils, rock art, and the lives of those who shaped the region. The Old Library Museum houses the Lex Bremner fossil collection and the Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe Permanent Exhibition. The Hester Rupert Art Museum showcases modern South African art, while Reinet House features one of the largest living grape vines in the world.
The town's Cape Dutch legacy is on full display at the Drostdy Hotel, the magnificent Victorian Gothic Dutch Reformed mother church (reminiscent of England's Salisbury Cathedral), and along Stretch's Court where an entire street of restored slave cottages has been preserved.
Karoo Cuisine & Culture
You're in red meat country here, with Karoo lamb being the specialty - the sheep graze on aromatic Karoo bush, giving the meat its distinctive flavour. Traditional dishes like milktart, koeksisters, and rusks feature alongside contemporary cuisine at restaurants overlooking the Dutch Reformed Church.
The annual Karoo Lus Festival in September celebrates this agricultural heritage, while year-round you can taste South African agave spirits and browse shops selling mohair - a traditional Karoo fibre - and local crafts including Zulu and Ndebele jewelry.
Tourism With Purpose
In Graaff-Reinet, your visit supports more than historic preservation - it helps build a sustainable future. Through Spekboom, a portion of every booking goes to causes working on education, conservation, and community development in the Karoo.
How it works:
- 1.Book accommodation through Spekboom in Graaff-Reinet
- 2.A contribution from your stay goes to local causes
- 3.Track the collective impact of all visitors
Graaff-Reinet Causes Your Stay Supports
When you book accommodation in Graaff-Reinet through Spekboom, a portion goes directly to these organizations creating lasting change in the Karoo community.
