Articles
Plains of the Camdeboo
The plains of the Camdeboo refers to the vast area once sees when viewing down on the Karoo landscape from the Valley of Desolation.
Eve Palmer's book - Plains of Camdeboo - also refers to this area. Jamie Fox wrote about his visit to the Karoo, "I had come in search of a book. Not a thing of paper and ink, but the spirit of a very particular book. Essentially, Eve Palmer’s The Plains of Camdeboo is the celebration of a Karoo landscape. It’s about Cranemere farm, where five generations of Palmers have made their home. From dinosaurs and early hominids to trekkers and sheep farmers. Eve traces the myriad stories that have played out in this dry place. It’s an evocative piece of writing that captures the essence of the Camdeboo."
Visitors to Graaff-Reinet are encouraged to explore the Plains of Camdeboo & to visit the nearby towns of Nieu-Bethesda & Aberdeen.
The following activities showcase the 7 Routes within the Plains of Camdeboo that are currently being develop:
We recommend the folloings things to do & see around Graaff Reinet
• Eco-Tourism Route – See the valley of Desolation situated in the Camdeboo National Park.
• Culinary Route – Visit the 2 Goats Deli in Nieu-Bethesda and enjoy home-brewed ale and goats cheese. Or why not enjoy divine coffee and homemade chocolates in Graaff-Reinet
• Children’s Activities Route – Walk the Eerste Fontein Hiking Trail. Or why not enjoy finding fossils or bushmen paintings located in the Karoo
• Heritage Route – Visit the famous Reinet House and see the old vine and waterwheel located in the back garden
• Palaeontology Route – View some of the oldest fossils that are placed in the Old Library Museum in Graaff-Reinet
• Oral History Route – Hear the interesting stories of the people who call Graaff-Reinet home.
• Arts and Crafts Route – Come and see what the locals of Graaff-Reinet are showcasing, including beautiful ceramics by Charmaine Haines!
Enjoy your time in the Karoo!!!
Aberdeen
Situated on the N9 between Graaff Reinet and the Garden Route, Aberdeen offers history for the mind and peace for the soul. The district is renowned for its wool and mohair, being the largest mohair producing area in South Africa. Aberdeen was founded in 1856. Named after the birthplace of Rev. Andrew Murray in Scotland, it was originally a farm called "Brakfontein". The deeds to the land were signed by Lord Charles Somerset in 1817. Aberdeen is declared an architectural conservation town and a veritable repository of styles including Victorian, Georgian, Karoo, German, Gothic Revival, Russian, Art Nouveau and Flemish Revival can be found here. Excellent examples of the ostrich baron dwellings can be seen. Strolling through this historic town one is able to discover its rich heritage. Today Aberdeen is a town attracting many newcomers, some of them refugees from the big cities! With the healthy climate and the slow pace of life, the town presents a relaxing alternative to the stresses and strains of modern life.
Attractions
- The Ostrich Palaces – Pagel House, Greenfields and Villeria
- Nederduitsche Gereformeerde (NG) Kerk and the Biblical Art Panels in the church hall and the olive tree in the grounds of the church, grown from a cutting taken from the Garden of Gethsemane
- The Cemetery (with Boer War graves)
- World Famous Painted Ostrich Eggs By Local Resident and Artist Carlos Garcez de Sousa
- The Magistrate’s Court and Post Office
For more information visit the Aberdeen Publicity and Tourism Office website.
Nieu Bethesda
The charming little town of Nieu-Bethesda is set in the fertile valley of the Sneeuberg mountains beneath Compassberg (2502m), approximately 56km from Graaff-Reinet. Rev. Charles Murray, the minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in Graaff-Reinet, established the village of Nieu-Bethesda. This quaint village has retained a rare historical and architectural integrity and is now popular as a retreat for artists.
Enjoy a day tour which includes an outing to the Owl House, viewings of artefacts and fossils, a visit to the Sneeuwietjie School in the Township, a sheep shearing experience and the chance to marvel at Khoi San rock paintings. Tours include lunch and can be booked at Camdeboo Cottages. Alternatively, if you wish to explore at your own leisurely pace, enquire at reception for directions.
Nieu-Bethesda also boasts with the “2 Goats Deli” where local ale is being brewed as well as various cheeses are made. It’s easy to find from the Owl House, just follow the road over the river and turn left.
There are a handful of places that serve lunch, so take your time and explore the dusty streets, visit a few artists’ studios and if there’s space in the car, buy an owl.
The Owl House
Nieu-Bethesda is home to the Owl House where Helen Martins lived. The name was given to the premises by local residents after Martins placed owl statues which she had made herself on the roof and on the veranda to guard the house. She was regarded as an eccentric woman who lived as a recluse, devoting her life to making hundreds of figures and statues from cement and glass. These are on display behind the Owl House in the area known as the Camel Yard.
To Helen Martins, her work provided an escape from her circumstances where she had suffered the loss of her third husband. Numerous symbolic meanings are attached to her work and some have even said that the house can be understood “as a personal diary" and that the sculptures she made represented and personified her dreams. When her eyesight started failing in 1976 she decided to she take her own life by drinking caustic soda.
Her assistant, Koos Malgas, worked closely with her in making all of the cement statues. He passed away recently and with it came the end of an era in Nieu-Bethesda.
In 1985 Athol Fugard produced a play called The Road to Mecca which is based on the life story of Helen Martins.
