What is the first thing you think of if I had to ask you to name one thing to see or do if you visited the Karoo Heartland town of Graaff-Reinet? I don't know about you, but my answer would be the Valley of Desolation in the Camdeboo National Park. For some reason every time … Continue reading Sunset and scenic views at the Valley of Desolation
Tag: Karoo
Roadside gnomes in the Karoo
I always go on about all the treasures one get to discover when road tripping. Well known landmarks, inadequately marked but well worth taking turnoffs, interesting attractions, beautiful views, fascination people, lekker food, unusual sights and so much more. Driving back to Port Elizabeth from Graaff-Reinet the other day I passed through the town of … Continue reading Roadside gnomes in the Karoo
Roadtrip gems – The sun setting in the Karoo
Road tripping bring you the possibility of many memorable things. Beautiful destinations, interesting people, scrumptious food, fascinating places and, in this case, a beautiful Karoo Heartland sunset. Although it was probably still another hour before sunset, the sun heading for the distant mountains through hazy skies made for a sight beautiful enough to make me … Continue reading Roadtrip gems – The sun setting in the Karoo
The Aloes are in bloom
One of my favorite things about this time of the year (early winter) is the fact that the aloes are in bloom. A little road trip through the Karoo Heartland had me stop once or twice to snap a few pictures, but mostly I just enjoyed the sight of them next to the road. A lot … Continue reading The Aloes are in bloom
Exploring (and not ghost hunting) the Somerset East Museum
I struggle to pass by a small town museum if I have time on hand and time on hand I had the last time I visited the Karoo Heartland town of Somerset East. I immediately headed up to the Somerset East Museum standing in the shadow of the Boschberg Mountain at the top end of … Continue reading Exploring (and not ghost hunting) the Somerset East Museum
Walter Battiss Art Gallery – the home of Fook Island
The Karoo Heartland town of Somerset East is a place full of interesting and quirky attractions. One of them is the Walter Battiss Art Gallery which also houses the local tourism information office. Battiss (6 January 1906 – 20 August 1982) was generally considered to be the foremost South African abstract painter but is probably … Continue reading Walter Battiss Art Gallery – the home of Fook Island
Three Karoo Heartland icons
Three Karoo Heartland icons, all in one picture. Big open sky, Karoo koppies (in this case Koffiebus and Teebus outside Steynsburg) and the good ol' reliable Windpomp.
Remembering the Slagtersnek hangings
If you are flying along in a northerly direction through the Karoo Heartland on the N10, the main drag between Port Elizabeth and Cradock, do slow down a bit after you pass the first turnoff to Somerset East and keep a look out on the right hand side of the road for a cenotaph like … Continue reading Remembering the Slagtersnek hangings
The Windpomp
The windpomp is one of the icons of the Karoo Heartland and as part of the landscape as Karoo koppies, sheep and Angora goats and a good ol' farm gate. But have you ever wondered where the windpomp came from and how long they've been around?The first windpumps were used to pump water since at … Continue reading The Windpomp
Somerset East’s whiskey bar in a church
I'm not much of a drinker preferring to do the sacrilegious thing of making beer shandy by throwing lemonade into a perfectly good beer. But I am known to enjoy a good beer or wine tasting so it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that I'm doing a post on a place where you can do … Continue reading Somerset East’s whiskey bar in a church
Firefly the Travel Guy 