The last couple of times I've been in Nieu-Bethesda I stayed with Ian and Katrien Allemann at Outsiders B&B every time. Outsiders is conveniently situated on the main road as you come into town and just about next door to the entrance of the Owl House. Everything is literally walking distance away and you can … Continue reading Nieu-Bethesda accommodation at Outsiders B&B
The historic Dutch Reformed Church is probably the biggest landmark in Nieu-Bethesda. It's perhaps not as famous as the Owl House or interesting as the Kitching Fossil Centre, but if it comes to landmarks, it stands out in town. I'm always in awe of the fact that such a magnificent building was constructed in such … Continue reading Nieu-Bethesda’s historic Dutch Reformed Church
The village of Nieu-Bethesda is located about 30 minutes north of Graaff-Reinet and literally feels like another world. It is so different from most small rural towns as there is very little development around which makes the place feel sleepy and peaceful. The road to about 4km from the outskirts of the village was tarred … Continue reading The roads of Nieu-Bethesda
Graaff-Reinet in the Karoo Heartland is often referred to as the Gem of the Karoo. Spending a long weekend in the town just again proved to me that this gem isn't one buried deep under ground somewhere but rather has been unearthed and is mesmerizing those that get to visit it. Located in a horseshoe … Continue reading Graaff-Reinet – a gem discovered
It feels like most people I speak to about travelling in the Karoo Heartland of the Eastern Cape have been to Graaff-Reinet, yet many didn't venture much further to also visit Nieu-Bethesda. Nieu-Bethesda truly is a very special village located barely 30 minutes from Graaff-Reinet and have a truly off the beaten track feeling to … Continue reading Why have you never visited Nieu-Bethesda?
I haven't really had the opportunity to venture into the North Eastern Cape so a first visit to Matatiele in the Eastern Cape highlands near boundary with Kwa-Zulu Natal was on the cards while en route to the Drakensberg in December. Matatiele services the surrounding villages and farming community and gives a very good first … Continue reading A visit to Matatiele in the Eastern Cape highlands
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
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
A quick detour from the N2 between Nanaga and Grahamstown to Kenton-on-Sea took me through the village of Salem for the first time in ages last week. I didn't have time to explore much but I did stop for a quick photo of the front of the church while parked next to the cricket field. Salem … Continue reading The church in Salem
Little Venice, a tranquil canal area in London, home to restaurants, pubs and relaxing boat trips.... St Francis Bay, a tranquil canal area in the Kouga region of the Eastern Cape, home to beautiful homes, restaurants and relaxing boat trips... and lots of sunshine. St Francis Bay wins
Firefly the Travel Guy 