Graaff-Reinet
One of the oldest towns in the country, with more national monuments than anywhere else and a park almost all around it.
Updated 22 October 2026
Founded in 1786, Graaff-Reinet - officially renamed Robert Sobukwe Town in February 2026, though the old name is still the one in everyday use - is one of the oldest towns in South Africa and holds well over two hundred national monuments - more than any other town - which is why the whole centre reads as a museum of Cape Dutch and Karoo architecture. The Dutch Reformed church at the head of Church Street is a large Gothic Revival building modelled loosely on Salisbury Cathedral, and the Drostdy, the old magistrate's residence of 1806, is now a hotel with a row of restored labourers' cottages behind it in Stretch's Court. Reinet House, a Cape Dutch parsonage, is a museum with a grapevine planted in 1870 in the yard. The town sits in a loop of the Sundays River, almost surrounded by Camdeboo National Park, so the Valley of Desolation is fifteen minutes away. Karoo heat in summer is heavy, and the town empties in the middle of the day.
History
The Dutch East India Company founded the town in 1786 as a trading post and named it after Governor Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff and his wife. The railway to Port Elizabeth, begun in 1877, opened on 26 August 1879, and the town now has more national monuments than any other in South Africa (Wikipedia, Graaff-Reinet).
What you'll find
- The 200-plus monuments - the densest concentration of declared buildings in any town.
- The Drostdy - the 1806 magistrate's residence, now a hotel with restored cottages behind.
- Reinet House - a Cape Dutch parsonage museum with an 1870 vine in the yard.
- The park setting - a town almost entirely surrounded by Camdeboo National Park.
When to go
March to May and September to November. Two days with the park.
Before you go
Summer heat exceeds forty degrees and the town shuts in the afternoons. Museums keep short hours and several close at weekends. Some monument buildings are private homes viewed only from the street.
Nearby
The Valley of Desolation is minutes away; Nieu-Bethesda and the Owl House are north.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q1004667, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Graaff-Reinet
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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