Activities

Helen Martins’ Owl House, often cited as South Africa’s finest example of outsider art, is an extraordinary, other-worldly home of concrete and ground glass sculptures. Her creativity conjures up an array of emotions: [...]

The Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre depicts the setting in the area around Nieu Bethesda 253 million years ago during the Permian Period. The centre showcases the fossils found both in Nieu Bethesda and [...]

The area around Nieu Bethesda is good for either a leisurely ride or a challenging ride for serious mountain bikers. If you’re feeling lazy, hire a bike from the Outsiders B&B and cruise around the [...]

The area around Nieu Bethesda boasts around 280 bird species including water birds, mountain birds and several species of raptor and other birds of prey. Be on the lookout for the Blue Crane, South Africa's [...]

Gather a colourful perspective of village life. Jakob van Staden has lived in Nieu-Bethesda all his life and has extensive knowledge of the area. He offers twenty minute guided donkey cart tours during [...]

Following the tradition of Helen Martins, there are several artists who have found their muse in Nieu Bethesda and established their studios in the village. Albert Redelinghuys Albert Redelinghuys is a Gauteng escapee who settled [...]

Felters A group of six enterprising women, led by Charlotte Malgas, have started a line of decor products. Woollen fleece felt balls are dyed and decorated with beads and binding tape to make colourful and [...]

If, on your ambles around Nieu Bethesda, you feel the need for a break, drop into one of the village coffee shops for a drink and a chat. The Karoo Lamb is diagonally [...]

Horse riding is offered at several places in the village.

No street lights and cloudless skies in Nieu Bethesda allow the Milky Way to dominate the night.

There is some fine wooden carving on the old church pews and the original chandeliers are quite unique. The antiquated carbide gas generator for the gas lighting is no longer operational, but once [...]

The Sneeuberg Brewery and deli is essentially a one-man show and the beer and cheese served here are made by the owner. Even the coffee is roasted on site. The beer is free [...]

Nieu Bethesda has a working network of furrows, with water supplied daily from a spring on the plateau above the village. Residents channel water into their gardens using smaller gated funnels. Visitors can [...]

Graves date back to the late 1700's and the Anglo Boer War. A number of old graves have tombstones made from local rock slabs. The oldest is dated 1786.

Opposite the Owlhouse, a bridge crosses to the west bank of the river, where the original watermill still exists. The watermill was erected in 1860 by Mr B.J. Pienaar, on the original farm, [...]

Time: 2 hours each way (4 hours return) Difficulty: Easy Path: Not marked and may be overgrown at times More information: Get directions from the Karoo Lamb Restaurant. The Waterfurrow Walk is a [...]

Time: 5 hour round trip Difficulty: Easy Path: not marked and may be overgrown at times More information: Permission is needed from landowners. Get directions from the Karoo Lamb Restaurant. A circular walk [...]

Time: 4 hours each way from Kompasberg Farm (8 hours return). The farmstead is an hour’s drive from Nieu-Bethesda Difficulty: Moderate to difficult. The route is exposed and poorly marked. There is no [...]

Time: 3 hours each way (6 hours return). Difficulty: Easy More information: Permission is needed from landowners. Get directions from the Karoo Lamb Restaurant. Hike along the old N9, following the railway to [...]

The Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre offers half-hour guided tours to the Gats River bed to view fossils found there. The fossils date back 253 million years in the Permian Period. Walk back to [...]

Ganora Farm runs guided hikes to rock art sites. The rock art found here in San and Khoi shelters date back 10 000 years. This is evidence of Later Stone Age people, possibly [...]

Graaff-Reinet is the fourth oldest town in South Africa, having been established in 1786. The town sits in a bend in the Sundays River in the shadow of the Sneeuberg Mountain. Graaff-Reinet [...]

Camdeboo National Park covers an awe-inspiring landscape of ancient rocks, of vast and timeless Karoo landscapes. While here, explore a wildlife refuge on the shores of a picturesque lake. Situated on the outskirts [...]

Mountain Zebra National Park, situated about 12 km from Cradock, was proclaimed in 1937 to save the endangered Cape mountain zebra. Today, the national park seeks to conserve the unique biodiversity of the [...]

Take a two hour trip up the Loodsberg Pass in an old railway trolley. The route ascends into the desert mountains, passing the occasional sheep farm and solitary windmill. The tour can accommodate [...]

At Ganora Farm there are fossil beds dating 240 million years, Bushman etchings and Boer artifacts. Horse-riding, mountain-biking and bird-watching are all possible. Visit San and Khoi shelters on the farm where rock [...]

Cradock is a 19th town on the banks of the Greak Fish River. The site of the town was coveted by both the Boer settlers and the Xhosa as good grazing grounds for [...]

Karoo Cats is a conservation program near Cradock that aims to create public awareness of the plight of small cats through research, public awareness and education. 99% of cat conservation focuses only on the large [...]

The last hippo recorded in the Karoo was 250 years ago. P.C Ferreira's dream has been to bring them back, specifically to the Karoo Gariep Nature Reserve. In December 2006, three hippos found [...]

The Karoo Lamb is diagonally opposite the Owl House. From the stoep of the restaurant, you can watch the ‘traffic’ go by. Breakfast is served all day. Enjoy home-made bread, jams and cottage [...]

This the spot to watch big games and have a cold one after a hike.

A visit to the Sneeuberg Brewery and the adjoining 2Goats Deli is perfect for sundowners after a peaceful Karoo day. Order a cheese platter and an ale, and shoot the breeze while the [...]

Auntie Evelyn lives in the Nieu Bethesda township area of Pienaarsig. She and serves traditional food with township style. In her one-of-a-kind restaurant, she serves traditional, delicious food. In summer, meals are served [...]

The Village Inn is in the same street as the Owl House. Meals and refreshments are served from 8:00 in the morning. You can either sit in the inn’s cosy interior of soak [...]

Nieu Bethesda is a magical place for a romantic wedding and the ideal place to host a conference with a difference or a reunion with old friends. Venues Your event can be held [...]

If self catering, it is best to bring most supplies with you. However, take heart. The Karoo Lamb shop will gladly sell you some Nieu Bethesda lamb, locally made wors and firewood for [...]

The Outsiders shop stocks an eclectic collection for any type of shopper. Firstly, there’s the practical stuff like hand-knitted beanies and mohair scarves and blankets to ward away the winter chills. Empty tummies [...]

A group of six enterprising women, led by Charlotte Malgas, have started a line of decor products. Woollen fleece felt balls are dyed and decorated with beads and binding tape to make colourful [...]

Any visit to the Owl House would be incomplete without a browse through Freddy Jacobs’ stand of intricate and charming wire sculptures. Freddy is a self-taught artist, and his work varies from pieces [...]

Sheepskin slippers are wonderfully soft, cool in summer and warm in winter. They are resilient and washable. Margaret Swiers and Sofie Steenberg both have many years’ experience making sheepskin slippers and other sheepskin products. Margaret’s [...]

Thanda Mali & Prima Cash Store are two shops in the Nieu-Bethesda township, Pienaarsig, that stocks basic groceries and some fresh produce.