Karoopark Guest House

It is an ideal location to soak up the relaxed ambience of the Karoo.

Guests can relax next to the pool or under the veranda. Guests may also make use of the braai facilities or take a relaxing stroll through the lovely gardens of the estate. Karoopark Guest House offers safe, private undercover parking.

It also offers traditional Karoo lamb, potjies and braais by prior arrangement. Withond ~ a locally brewed Witblitz ~ is the house drink which is served with each meal.

The waterhole at Karoopark forms part of the distinguished colonial-style manor that was built at the turn of the century. It was the largest residential property in Graaff-Reinet. Today as a guesthouse, it offers luxury and family accommodation and homely hospitality. The estate is within walking distance of shops, banks and historical places of interest.

Your hosts, Buks and Louise Marais pride themselves in the fact that their guests can enjoy a "home away from home" atmosphere. Here their guests become their friends.

Graaff-Reinet is the fourth oldest town in South Africa. It is situated on route from Johannesburg to Cape Town in the Eastern Cape Province. Many people stop over while travelling to or from the Garden Route for Accommodation and Restuarant facilities

Cradled in a meander of the Sundays River, Graaff-Reinet is an oasis in the desolate surrounding landscape. Practically every visitor remarks on its unique old-world character. This historical town is well-known within South Africa for the role that it played in the Anglo Boer War and for its broekie lace verandahs.

Graaff-Reinet boasts with the Valley of Desolation, which is a geographical phenomenon that has been declared a National Monument.

Exploring all Graaff-Reinet`s charms takes at least a day. One can wander freely around day or night admiring the historical buildings and museums, have a meal and a drink and stroll back. There is no need for a car to get to the town`s sights.

Most of Graaff-Reinet`s accommodation facilities utilizes houses and buildings dating back to the turn of the 19th century.

Today Graaff-Reinet retains some of the atmosphere of its days as a frontier settlement when it was full of wanderers, hunters, explorers and pioneers, who were amazed at the vast herds of game roaming the area. It is a must see for all who visit South Africa.

Graaff-Reinet has retained much of the character of a 19th century rural town. With its painstakingly restored buildings, its monuments and historic associations, it`s virtually a living museum. There is plenty of history attached to each street of this town.

Activities:

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Graaff-Reinet has numerous sites that are worth visiting and there is plenty do whilst in town.

Valley of Desolation
The sheer cliff face is a geological phenomenon that is situated in the Karoo Nature Reserve. This 15 000 ha reserve surrounds the 200 year-old town of Graaff-Reinet. It is the product of volcanic and erosive forces of nature over 100 million years. The Valley was declared a Scenic National Monument in 1935.

Trips to the Valley of Desolation can be arranged by Karoopark Guest House.

An aerial View of Graaff-Reinet can be seen from the Toposcope on route to the Valley of Desolation.

Nieu-Bethesta
The charming little town of Nieu-Bethesda is set in a fertile valley of the Sneeuberg mountains beneath the Compassberg (2502m). It is 70km from Graaff-Reinet.

Nieu Bethesta is home to the Owl House where Helen Martins lived. She was regarded as an eccentric old woman and lived as a recluse, devoting her life to making hundreds of figures and statues from cement and glass.


How to get there:

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If travelling from the North (Johannesburg or Bloemfontein), upon entering Graaff-Reinet there is a Shell petrol station (Botha's Garage) on your left and Caledon Street directly opposite on your right.
Turn right into Caledon Street, proceed towards the mountain, continue past the Dutch Reformed Church, straight across the four-way stop and Karoopark is three blocks further on your left, no 81.

Health & Climate:

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Graaff-Reinet's climate varies extensively over the seasons.
Summer: Hot weather with average temperatures of 31°C.
Winter: Cool but dry with average temperatures of 6,1°C.

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