The Call Of The Karoo

One way to get more out of a holiday is to head further afield than you otherwise might. LARA SAGE did exactly that in South Africa, and found a fascinating region that’s now more easily accessible.

The Karoo is a semi-desert interior area of South Africa notable for its extremes of temperature and its low rainfall (the name is thought to mean “big thirst”). It extends across parts of the Western and Eastern provinces of South Africa, and, while on first encounter it may seem desolate and unforgiving, delve deeper and you’ll find enormous variety – geological, historical and botanical.

There are many historical towns in the Karoo, but none as widely acclaimed as charming Graaff-Reinet. A visit here is greatly enhanced with a raconteur like David McNaughton from Karoo Connections. He enthusiastically took us around the town (which contains over 220 heritage sites – more than any other town in South Africa) and its surrounds, explaining the checkered history of African tribespeople, Dutch settlers, British colonialists and Boers. Early adventurers, explorers, hunters and travellers are said to have unanimously denounced it as a frightening place!

Today, the old town has new paintwork and some well-maintained museums. A stroll along the quiet streets reveals many examples of magnificent Cape Dutch, Victorian and local Karoo architecture.

Drostdy Hotel