Hofmeyr’s pink church

Most Karoo towns have a historic church with a church tower that keeps an eye out over it. The Karoo Heartland town of Hofmeyr is no different... or perhaps it is. Why? Because it has a pink church tower standing out above the town. The Dutch Reformed Church in Hofmeyr was built in 1875 and … Continue reading Hofmeyr’s pink church →

Moonrise over pink clouds

Not long ago I spent a night at Angler and Antelope Guesthouse in Somerset East. Coming out of the guesthouse on my way to dinner, the near full moon was rising in the east over clouds painted bright pink by the setting sun behind me. I rushed back to my room to grab my car … Continue reading Moonrise over pink clouds →

A Karoo road – doesn’t matter which way you go

“Would you please tell me, which way I ought to go from here?”“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat.“I don’t much care where … ” said Alice.“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the cat.”— Lewis Carroll

Museum lane

Looking up Museum lane to the Somerset East Museum at the foot of the Boschberg. The museum is at the top of Beaufort Street with the Dutch Reformed Church at the other end.

The Dutch Reformed Church in Somerset East

Somerset East's historic Dutch Reformed Church stand on the main drag through town at the intersection with Beaufort Road. After the village of Somerset (with the East only being added 30 years later) was established, a need started to arise for a church. The corner stone of the church was laid in 1830 and it … Continue reading The Dutch Reformed Church in Somerset East →

The town of Somerset East

The town of Somerset East lies in the southern Karoo Heartland at the foot of the Boschberg mountain. Somerset East was established by Lord Charles Somerset in 1815 as an experimental farm to provide meat and fresh produce to the soldiers on the Eastern Frontier. The site was chosen over sites in the Gamtoos Valley … Continue reading The town of Somerset East →

Somerset East’s beautiful Beaufort Street

I spent a day in Somerset East recently just driving around town and visiting some of the historic building and attractions. At first I thought about just doing one post featuring it all, but because there wasn't really a story to my visit (other than the fact that I was actually there for a Karoo … Continue reading Somerset East’s beautiful Beaufort Street →

Off the beaten track

Everybody should head off the beaten track at some stage or another. Stop in the middle of a Karoo dirt road and switch off the engine. Get out and stand in the middle of the road. Feel the sun on your face and the breeze in your hair. Listen to the cecadas with no car … Continue reading Off the beaten track →

Ganora Fossil Museum

When I grew up I wanted to be an archaeologist. Somebody like Indiana Jones who discover lost cities and artifacts, dig up dinosaurs and made remarkable finds that would wow the world. That dream kinda shattered when I found it it wasn't all quite as adventurous and glamorous. Instead I went into tourism although the … Continue reading Ganora Fossil Museum →

Karoo koppies – Koffiebus and Teebus

The flat top koppies (mountains) of the Karoo is as part of this arid region of the country as windpompe, Angora goats, Karoo lamb, flowering aloes and big open skies. Two of the best known Karoo koppies are the Koffiebus and Teebus south of the town of Steynsburg. The word "Bus" means pot in old Dutch as the hills are … Continue reading Karoo koppies – Koffiebus and Teebus →