Graaff-Reinet

Set in a twist of the Sundays River, the Great Karoo town of Graaff-Reinet is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, dating back to the Great Trek, between 1835 and the early 1840's. The Great Trek was in rebellion against the policies of the British government and in search of fresh pasturelands, by the 'Boeremense'- (descendants of the original Dutch settlers). There are more and more travellers, adventurers and prospectors today who pass through its streets, than your average South African town! Today, it is a vibrant centre for tourism, game farming and traditional agriculture.

Since its formation in 1786, this town has been an oasis in South Africa’s great central semi-desert area of the Karoo. It’s a town steeped in its past, with at least 200 historical buildings, restored pre-Victorian homes in almost every street and a collection of museums and galleries celebrating its past.

Graaff-Reinet is best viewed from the heights of the 'Camdeboo National Park', to appreciate how it is tucked into a curve of the river. From here, you can also see the Valley of Desolation and get a good sense of the utter vastness of the Great Karoo.

This remarkable town, lies on the western frontier of Eastern Cape province. It has bred many famous people, like the charismatic and eloquent founder of the Pan Africanist Congress- Robert Sobukwe. He who spent most of the 1960's detained by the apartheid government on Robben Island. Another son of Graaff-Reinet was: 'Anton Rupert', who was the billionaire who helped restore and rebuild the vibrant community of his home town.

Modern Graaff-Reinet is based on tourism, game farming and traditional stock like the: Merino sheep and ‘white gold’ or angora goats; which give mohair.

In the centre of Graaff-Reinet is the magnificent Victorian Gothic Dutch: "Dutch Reformed Church, Groot Kerk. It looks a lot like England’s Salisbury Cathedral. Known effectionately as the: 'mother church' of Graaff Reinet. Interesting to note about this church is that the architectural design is based on Salisbury cathedral England. This is the only church in South Africa that has a fireplace in the meeting room of the church. A local farmer cut, prepared and donated all the stone for this great building.

Of interest to tipplers, military buffs and lovers of the bizarre is: 'The Graaff-Reinet Club', which hosted the British Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards during the South African War of 1899 to 1902, (formerly known as the Second Anglo-Boer War).

The story goes that at the end of this very, vicsous colonial war, the Guards made for the club and partied so hard the bar was riddled with bullet-holes afterwards. Nevertheless, any past or present member of the Coldstream Guards is still welcome in the Graaff-Reinet Club.