Graaff-Reinet, the heart of the “Great Karoo” is surrounded by the Camdeboo National Park in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The town lies in the horse-shoe bend of the Sundays River and boasts more proclaimed national monuments than any other South African town. Graaff-Reinet is the fourth oldest town in South Africa and is recognized as the home of magnificent examples of Cape Dutch architecture, and over 220 heritage sites (more than any other town in South Africa!). The past is preserved in four extraordinary museums which hold collections of photographic memorabilia, firearms, artworks and fossils, tracing the story of the Karoo - and the town - from pre-history right up to the present day. It is also worthwhile to take a drive to the spectacular Valley of Desolation and the Karoo Nature Reserve a few minutes northwest of the town. The 14.000-hectare reserve is well stocked with game. Particularly mountain zebra, wildebeest, springbok and gemsbok are numerous, but also many other mammal and bird species. Graaff-Reinet boasts many other tourist attractions, from paragliding over microlight flying, trout fishing, fossil search, golf, horse riding and mountain biking to guided township walks
