"GRAAFF - REINET." a Graaff-Reinet Travel Page by PEE-WEE

Graaff-Reinet - Karoo South Africa
Graaf-Reinet a small Karoo town in South Africa is today a tourist destination because of its history. Graaff-Reinet has much of its history preserved in its architecture one of the reasons Tourists flock to the area. Around 1770 the trek of the Boers had penetrated from the Cape into the area of today's Graaff-Reinet. Here, at the margin of the colony, they led an unsteady life under constant threat from Xhosa groups, but as independent and autonomous farmers.

This situation was too difficult for the Cape Town administration to inspect, so they decided to establish a state authority in the region. The first administrator was installed here in 1785. He determined the borders of his territory in 1786, had an administration building erected - the Drostdy - and named the place after the then Governor Jacob van der Graaff and his wife Cornelia Reinet.

The attempt to secure government authority turned out to be difficult. The self-assured citizens resisted any supervision. In 1795 they even proclaimed an autonomous republic, an endeavour which failed however, mainly due to the arrival of the English at the Cape that same year.

But the government also did not manage to establish lasting peace, and when at the end of the 19th century the Boer War broke out, the citizens of Graaff-Reinet fought fiercely on the side of the Boers. Nowadays Graaff-Reinet with its 200 monument-protected buildings is one of the best preserved historical places in the country.

Graaff-Reinet is an ideal location to soak up the relaxed ambience of the Karoo. Graaff-Reinet is the fourth oldest town in South Africa, everyone visiting it, remarks on the great ambiance in town.

Accommodation is available in the Colonial-style manor house that was built at the end of the 19th century. Today as a guesthouse, bed-and-breakfast accommodation and self-catering cottages are available. Shops, banks and historical places of interest are within walking distance.

Visitors can also enjoy tasty meals such as ‘Karoolambtjops’ in the A 'la Carte Restaurant and a range of other traditional Karoo meals are on offer by prior arrangement.

Withond, the house drink, is locally brewed at the Reinet Museum and no one can leave town without a taste.

Karoopark Guest House has a swimming pool where guests can relax. The establishment also offers safe and secure private parking and it also has conference and Internet facilities.