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Graaff-Reinet · South Africa

Stays in Graaff-Reinet

Graaff-Reinet, founded in 1786, is the Karoo town people drive to for two things: its heritage streets and the Valley of Desolation. Sleep in the centre. The Drostdy Hotel at 28 Church Street is the reason many people come: the building was designed by Louis Michel Thibault and built in 1804 to 1806 as the seat of the magistrate, became a hotel in the 1870s, and was restored again after the Rupert Family Foundation bought it in 2012, with the freed slaves' cottages of Stretch's Court behind it. Reinet House, the old parsonage, is now a museum with one of the largest grape vines in the world in its garden. Camdeboo National Park almost surrounds the town and is run by SANParks: the Valley of Desolation gate is 5 km out on the R63 to Murraysburg, and the gate for the game-viewing area and Nqweba Dam is 4 km out on the N9 to Middelburg. The trap is timing the valley: go for late afternoon light, but the gates close in the evening, so you may have to leave before the best of the sunset.

Updated October 16, 2026

Where to stay in Graaff-Reinet is an easy answer: in the old centre, on or near Church Street, where the Drostdy Hotel occupies the magistrate's residence that Louis Michel Thibault designed in 1804 to 1806, a national monument at 28 Church Street. Founded in 1786, Graaff-Reinet is one of South Africa's oldest colonial towns and has more than 200 buildings declared monuments, so sleeping in the centre means walking everywhere. The town lies in the Eastern Cape Karoo, outside any malaria zone, and is almost wrapped by Camdeboo National Park: the Valley of Desolation gate is 5 km out on the R63, and the game-viewing gate 4 km out on the N9.

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Drostdy Hotel9.1Family-friendly

Drostdy Hotel

A restored Church Street landmark with three pools and a spa

Why guests love it

Drostdy is a restored heritage hotel on Church Street in Graaff-Reinet, and it works well for families who want Karoo character with practical comforts. Three outdoor pools sit across the manicured gardens, so children and adults can swim at different times. Family rooms are available, pets are welcome, and parents can use the spa, the wellness centre and the gym. The restaurant serves Karoo lamb and venison. Evenings are quiet by design.

Graaff-Reinet
Family-friendly

What to expect

  • Founded in 1786, with more than 200 buildings declared monuments
  • The Drostdy Hotel, a national monument at 28 Church Street, built in 1804 to 1806
  • Valley of Desolation gate 5 km out of town on the R63
  • Camdeboo National Park's game-viewing area and Nqweba Dam, 4 km out on the N9
  • Outside any malaria zone, in the Eastern Cape Karoo

Local tips

  • Drive up to the Valley of Desolation in the late afternoon for the light on the dolerite columns, but check the gate times first: the section closes in the evening and you may have to leave before the sunset ends.
  • Use the right gate: the Valley of Desolation is reached from the R63 to Murraysburg, 5 km out, while the game-viewing area and Nqweba Dam start from the N9 to Middelburg, 4 km out.
  • Walk behind the Drostdy into Stretch's Court, the old free street between Bourke Street and Church Street, lined with cottages of freed slaves.
  • Visit Reinet House, the former parsonage, for the vast grape vine in its garden.
  • Stay in the centre and leave the car: most of the more than 200 declared monuments are within a few streets of Church Street.
  • Plan a half-day to Nieu-Bethesda and the Owl House if you have an extra night: it is the classic side trip from Graaff-Reinet.

Where to stay

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Frequently asked questions

In the historic centre, on or near Church Street. The Drostdy Hotel, at 28 Church Street, is a national monument built in 1804 to 1806, and from the centre you walk to Reinet House, Stretch's Court and the restaurants. You only need the car to drive out to Camdeboo National Park.

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