Pixley ka Seme District Municipality

Understand

One can stop almost anywhere in the Karoo and listen to the silence, breathe in the aged earth and the Karoo Bossies (which conjures up the taste of Karoo lamb!), and gaze at a startlingly clear horizon that seems drawn at the other end of the earth. The Karoo’s clear night sky is densely studded with countless stars and huge, bright planets; even other galaxies are visible with the naked eye, offering some of the best star-gazing in the world. Fossils of some of the earliest forms of one-celled life have been discovered in the Karoo, indicating that life has existed in this region for more than 3 billion years. The richness of predinosaur fossils in this region is world-renowned. To experience the magic of this area, you must venture off the N1 national road where you will discover eccentric little hamlets, sprawling farmsteads and historical towns populated by warm and welcoming people that love to share their stories and legends.

Tourism information offices Blue Crane Route Tourism Office, +27 42 243 1448, [email protected] Graaff-Reinet Tourism Office, +27 49 892-4248, [email protected]. Nieu Bethesda Tourism Bureau, +27 79 070-8988.

Getting there

By plane There are two airports located in close proximity to the Karoo. The closest is the Port Elizabeth airport which is 162 km from the Karoo. The East London airport is 256 km away. There are regular flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other South African destinations to the airports in Port Elizabeth and East London.

By car The Karoo is easily accessible by motorways from Cape Town (717 km), Durban (815 km), and Bloemfontein (453 km). You could also drive in from Johannesburg (1014 km) or Port Elizabeth (250 km). The road conditions are fairly good if you are coming from any of these cities.

By bus All major South African coach companies offer regular schedules to and from destinations like Addo.

See

Aberdeen, ☏ +27 49 846-0067, [email protected]. Situated in the delightful plains of Camdeboo, Aberdeen was founded in 1856 and is a declared architectural conservation town and a veritable repository of styles including Victorian, Georgian, Karoo, German, Gothic Revival, Russian, Art Nouveau and Flemish Revival. Jansenville. The little town of Jansenville owes its origins to the Dutch Reformed Church that formed a parish there in 1854, named after the last Dutch Governor of the Cape. Jansenville is game country with many game farms and hunting concessions in the area. The restored Sid Fourie House serves as the local museum and has a surprising variety of interesting collections relating to both the lifestyles of the past and the locality in particular. It offers travellers a welcome break in their journey through the Karoo Heartland. Nieu-Bethesda, ☏ +27 79 070-8988. The village of Nieu-Bethesda lies at the foot of the Sneeuberge, approximately 55 km from Graaff-Reinet. The town came about after having been established as a mission station in 1875. It is known for its sacred Bushman rock art sites, fossils and the Owl House, which is a museum dedicated to the eccentric artist Helen Martins.

Do

The Karoo is an outstanding choice for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, swimming in natural pools, horseback riding, 4x4, quad-biking and fossils trails or walks For the nature lovers there are 235 bird species to identify and a wealth of plant life to discover. Other adventures include fly-fishing, golf, malaria free safari and hunting operations. Annual events include the Castle Lager Biltong Festival, the Spring Rose & Flower show, and the Bruintjieshoogte Cycle Tour & Bruintjieshoogte - ADD Marathon race between Pearston & Somerset East.

Game viewing The Camdeboo National Park has 24 km of gravel road that offer tourists a chance to sight Buffalo, Red Hartebeest, Eland, Gemsbok, Springbok, Blesbok, Ostrich and Black Wildebeest. The park supports a diverse spectrum of wildlife including 43 mammal species, of which 13 are carnivores. Also located in the Karoo area is the Kamala Game Reserve, a Big 5 reserve that is situated at the confluence of the 6,000 ft (1,800 m) high Bruinjieshoogte and Boschberg mountain ranges.

Camdeboo National Park, ☏ +27 49 892-3453. Kamala Game Reserve, ☏ +27 83 235-9927. Samara Samara Private Game Reserve (near Graaff-Reinet), ☏ +27 49 891-0880. Noorspoort Guest Farm (near Steyterville), ☏ +27 49 935-0001.

Trails 4X4 Trails. The Karoo offers 4x4 trails for every type of off-road vehicle, quads and mountain bikes, from a casual drive in the mountains, to more challenging adventures to undertake. Hiking & Walking Trails, Somerset East. The diverse nature of the vegetation and typography of the area creates a landscape that is well suited to the interest of hikers. There are one and two day hikes available on the mountain. Crag Lizard Trail. This 1½-km walk starts at the parking area of the Valley of Desolation and is clearly marked with the Crag Lizard logo. Eerstefontein Day Walk. Hikers have a choice of three route options ranging from 5 to 16 km. A number of good picnic sites can be found at Eerstef

Buy

Nieu Bethesda does not having filling stations, and the shops and restaurants accept cash only. Colesberg and De aar are one of the most popular and biggest cities in the Karoo. Hanover and birtstown the two smallest towns in the Karoo they lie on the N1 and N2.

Eat

Karoo lamb is widely known in the whole of South Africa, and is a must if you visit Karoo.

Drink & nightlife

Drink a lot of water during the hot summer month from November to March. Make sure you have enough water on board when travelling around.

Sleep

Karoo Moons Guest House (Aberdeen), ☏ +27 49 846-0821, fax: +27 49 846-0941, [email protected]. This urban guest house offers accommodation in the main guest house and in various historical cottages. All the luxury suites have extra-long king-sized beds, and the guest house features rooms with en suite rooms opening onto Victorian verandas. Golden Valley Country Inn (Cookhouse), ☏ +27 42 247-1155, fax: +27 42 247-1494, [email protected]. This inn is situated between the Addo Elephant National Park and the Mountain Zebra National Park in the Karoo Heartland. They offer 13 rooms, 6 of which have en suites. Two of the en suite rooms are family rooms. Koffylaagte Game Lodge (Jansenville), ☏ +27 49 836-9188, fax: +27 49 836-9188, [email protected]. The lodge has 14 bedrooms, spread between three luxury safari tents, 3 luxury rooms at the hunting lodge, a self-catering bush camp with 2 permanent tents, and the farm house which has two 2-bedroomed self-catering bedrooms with two single beds. The Stone Cottage (Pearston), ☏ +27 49 891-0416. This cosy cottage sleeps 5 people and is ideal for families or couples. The main room has a double bed and the family room has a double bunk and a single bed. There is also a kitchenette and braai area. The cottage is equipped for self catering, however meals can be arranged. Angler and Antelope Guesthouse (Som