Graaf Reinet

  Graaf Reinet, South Africa
Friday, January 27, 2006

Hello Everyone,

We drove northwards a bit to a town called Graaf Reinet. The town is the 4th oldest European town in South Africa. It has over 200 buildings that have been declared national monuments. Many of them are victorian style and cape dutch houses. It has some beautiful churches as well. The town is very charming and easy to get around on foot. It has one of the largest grapevines in the world. It was planted in 1870 and has a girth of over 2.5 metres. It is still bearing fruit.

Main church in Graaf Reinet


This town is surrouned by the Karoo Nature reserve. It has many animals and spectacular rock formations. We took a drive to a place called the Valley of Desolation. It is described as hauntingly beautiful. We hiked up to one of the highest points in the area. There we got a view overlooking the valley. We stayed up there until sunset.





We stayed at a backpackers here, it was a bit strange. It wasn't really a backpackers but just a persons house. You slept in one of 2 rooms they had to offer and used their kitchen and living room. The owner was very nice, but liked to talk a little too much and we found ourselves trying to hide from him at times, lol!

We went out for dinner one night with the couple staying in the other room. They were from Scotland. The lady was originally from South Africa though. They were a very nice couple and lots of fun. We have yet another invite of somewhere to stay when we get to Europe.

Another day here we got up at 6am and went for a drive in the animal reserve. It definatley was not the serengeti. We did see several types of bucks, some ostrich and very weird looking buffalo. They were more like horses gone wrong. They had big heads and tails and bodies like a horse. We also saw many of the secretary birds.

We had been anxious to go to another nearby town called Nieu Bethesda. We heard about a place here called the Owl House. All we can say is total weirdness. This place has had international recognition because of it, and has been featured on many of those tv programs that show weird houses, etc. It was also used for a movie.

A lady named Helen Martins decided one night while lying ill in bed that she would transform her yard and house into something different than the drab and grey environment that she lived in. I think she may have lost her mind. This place is in the middle of nowhere, the whole town has kind of a creepy feeling. Over the next 30 years herself and a few people she employed created her obsession. The inside of the house is adorned with coloured crushed glass on all the walls and doors. The yard is filled with cement owls, camels, acrobats and mermaids. They are all created with broken glass, bottles and wire. At the age of 78 worn down by arthritis and blindness she commited suicide. She left instructions that her house was to be preserved as a testament to her vision.





We were told to go to a place here called the The Two Goats Deli and Brewery. It was excellent. The guy here makes his own cheese, as well as kudu salami and brews a few different kinds of beer. We had a plate made for two, it had several kinds of cheeses, feta, a mild cheddar, a chevre, and a soft cheese with pieces of figs and honey drizzled on top. There was also a homemade olive bread and a delicious salad. Jack tried one of the stout beers and throughly enjoyed it as well. Everything was so tasty, I wish we could send some back home.

Next stop will be back down to the coast to the highly acclaimed Garden Route.