10 Places to Visit in the Big, Wide, Open Great Karoo of South Africa.

Spread throughout portions of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Free State in the center of South Africa, the Great Karoo has an area of roughly 400 000 km². This large semi-desert region is well-known for its sheep, flat-topped koppies, and stunning, endless plains. The Karoo sky seems to go on forever and beyond.

Many people conceive of the vast Karoo as the long, level stretch of the N1 between Johannesburg and Cape Town, where the only things to see are sheep and a straight tar road with speed cops hidden in hiding places and ambling lorries.

But if you venture a few (or many!) kilometers into it, you’ll discover oddball communities, amazing people, stunning scenery, history, fossils, natural wonders, the world’s purest, clearest air, and starry evenings that will leave you speechless.

Top Destinations in South Africa’s Great Karoo
It’s nearly tough to pick only ten amazing places to visit, but here they are:

1. East Somerset

The Route of the Blue Crane
Great Karoo, Somerset East
Blue Crane Tourism’s Great Karoo, Somerset East
Somerset East is located on the Blue Crane Route, which gets its name from the abundance of these stunning birds that call the region home, on the southern edge of the Karoo. This small town, which was founded in the early 1800s and is so rich in history, lies tucked away at the base of the Boschberg.

Museum of Walter Battiss

The Walter Battiss Museum, which today houses the largest collection of his art in the world, is one of the many historic structures that remain intact. When he was a kid, the building belonged to his family. Well-known for creating the fictional world Fook Island, this collection is worth a visit.

“You will look for the island’s location on maps in vain because it defies standard charting. You are either there or you are not; it is not a destination.

Battiss, Walter (1906–1982)

Fishing and Clean Air

The town provides a variety of outdoor pursuits, such as mountain biking on the Boschberg and fly-fishing.

2. The Nieu Bethesda Road leads to the Nieu Bethesda, Karoo roadway

This quaint community is tucked away in a valley that receives year-round water from a spring. It’s a small haven with lots of amazing sights to see and people to meet.

The Owl House
It is most famously the location of Owl House, designed by Helen Martins. This amazing work of “Outsider Art” must be seen to be believed. Helen Martins transformed her home into a vibrant exhibition of art by fusing sadness and joy (as well as a variety of other emotions) with a stunning display of glittering glass and unearthly concrete sculptures.

A Dream for Book Lovers

Dustcovers, the bookstore, is located down the dust road (it’s just dust here, and there are no street lights to dim the amazing night sky). I’m just telling you to spend a few hours perusing. Despite its short size, it is packed with literary gems. It also has some of the cutest creatures I’ve ever seen in a bookstore. And without a bookstore dog or cat, what would a bookstore be?

Beer and Goats

The Sneeuberg Brewery and Two Goat’s Deli are on the opposite side of the drift. Go there for a goat’s cheese platter and a chilled beer that was brewed there utilizing the pristine spring water indicated above. The kudu salami is delicious, and the cheese is also produced there. If the goats aren’t out and about doing goat things, like eating, you can view them.
Artists Nieu Bethesda is also home to a number of sculptors, ceramicists, and other artists. It will take you a few days to see everything. Proceed. Remain overnight. You won’t be let down.

3. Richmond

This town is a must-visit if you enjoy reading. This small village with more than ten bookshops is located on the N1. Every year, the town hosts the Richmond Book Festival, which brings together writers and book enthusiasts for a weekend dedicated to all things literary.

4. National Park Karoo

A haven for nature and birdwatchers, the Karoo National Park is located just outside Beaufort West. The Nuweveld Mountains and expansive plains in the park serve as habitats for the diverse array of animals and birds that call it home. To just a few, these are kudu, mountain zebra, lion, and wildebeest.

The park offers several lodging options, including a remote, historic shepherd’s cabin that can only be reached by 4X4. This is an authentic wilderness experience, with only solar electricity, no mobile phone reception, and a waterhole in front of it!

5. The Theatre Hotel Karroo

The Karroo Theatrical Hotel, which is incredibly extravagantly decorated, is only 4 kilometers outside of Steytlerville. The hotel, which is owned and operated by Jacques and Mark (along with their many furry friends), offers the peaceful seclusion of the Karoo along with glamor, flair, delicious food, and the notorious “Steytlerville Follies” on Saturdays.

Beautiful Scenery

The hotel offers the peace and quiet of the Karoo because it is situated on a farm outside of the town. As everything goes pink and golden, sit on the stoep and watch the sunset over the Karoo. On a sweltering summer day, lie on your back, swim in the pool, and look up at the vast sky. Better yet, take in the breathtaking starry sky on a warm summer evening.

Fun and Food

at addition to serving a la carte meals during the week, Jacques also prepares a unique three-course dinner on Saturday nights at the Grimaldi Theatre Hall, which is followed by the “Steytlerville Follies.” This exciting performance, which is hosted by Freddy Ferrari, features the renowned Dame Leyla Lamborgini. Get ready to be amazed.

6. Williston

A Tour of Tombstone? Yes, you heard correctly. Williston is located in the arid Northern Cape region of the Karoo, on the R63 between Calvinia and Carnarvon. Cornelius de Waal, a skilled carver, etched tombstones here. The local cemetery and farms outside the hamlet are included in the tour. A unique and fascinating method to learn about the history of the region.

Mall in Williston

A family-run tavern, restaurant, theater, and store make up the charming and eccentric Williston Mall in the town itself. Packed full of historical artifacts and attractions, it resembles Aladdin’s Cave. If you end up spending a long evening in the bar, conversing with some of the amazing people who call Die Ark home, they also provide lodging next door.

7. Albert Prince

In the middle of the dry Karoo Plains, Prince Albert is a peculiar little oasis that gets its water from the Swartberg Mountains. The town is home to many artists and interesting individuals, and it is full of charming, exquisitely maintained Victorian buildings.

Days in the Karoo
Numerous lodging options are available in the town and on the nearby farms. Everyone can find something to enjoy here. The same is true of activities; Prince Albert offers a wide variety of attractions, from galleries and mouthwatering restaurants to veldt treks and picturesque drives.

Nightlife in Prince Albert

Given that Prince Albert is more than 250 years old, it has seen many tales. Discover more about some of the town’s residents who simply don’t want to leave by taking one of the Ghost Tours! Another must-see is The Showroom, the town’s stunning art deco theater. The stars came on, the stars! Admire them for yourself, or take an Astro Tour to discover more about the Karoo night sky. In either case, you will be amazed.

8. Matjiesfontein

The village of Matjiesfontein, which has remained mostly unaltered since the 1800s, is located just off the N1 between Touws River and Laingsberg. During the Victorian era, it was a well-liked spa that was founded in 1884 on the main railway line that connects Cape Town and Johannesburg. In 1975, the entire village was designated as a national historic site.

The area is rich in history and is overlooked by the town’s most gracious old lady, the Lord Milner Hotel. It has a lot of history, including housing Oliver Schreiner and acting as the Cape Command’s headquarters during the Boer War.

Explore the Transport and Victoriana Museums, take a ride on the historic London red bus, or simply unwind in the elegant old hotel’s gardens or suites while taking in the peace and quiet of the Karoo.

9. Philippolis

Philippolis is located in the Free State portion of the Karoo and in the heart of South Africa. It has a rich history because it is the oldest settlement in the Free State. See some stunning examples of historic architecture by taking a stroll around the town.

Adam Kok, Emily Hobhouse, and Sir Laurens van der Post were among the notable figures in South African history who called the town home. A labyrinth has been constructed at the Laurens van der Post Memorial Centre, and Oom Japie se Huis, with its restaurant and bookstore, is definitely worth a visit.

10. Karoo Mountain Biking

There are multiple MTB races and amazing bike locations throughout the Karoo for the more active among you.

Bike Race for Trans Baviaans
This arduous race, known as “the toughest single stage MTB event in the world,” begins in Willowmore, a town in the Karoo, and travels all the way to Jeffrey’s Bay on the coast. 230 kilometers. within a day. Continuously. Since orienteering is as important as strength and fitness, the course is unmarked.

The Munga
Do you find the Trans Baviaans too gentle? The South African ultra-endurance mountain bike competition, which began in December 2014, can make your heart race.

The 1,000-kilometer, single-stage Munga event will put your stamina to the ultimate test as it traverses the relentless heat and dust of the Karoo.