One night in a historic house in Graaff-Reinet

Graaff-Reinet is the oldest town in the Eastern Cape Province and has been on our “must visit list” since we arrived in East London almost three years ago. In fact, Graaff-Reinet is the fifth oldest town in South Africa (after Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Simon’s Town, Paarl and Swellendam). That surely justifies a visit!

But because Graaff-Reinet is 328km/204 miles from East London, it’s just too far to drive there after work on a Friday. So, we decided to pack ‘padkos’ (*) and to leave at sunrise on a Saturday to see some really beautiful views and buildings in Graaff-Reinet.

(*)Padkos: This is a South African term that refers to food taken along for the road during a journey. It can include snacks or homemade treats. The word ‘padkos’ is commonly used in South Africa, especially in a society where people travel regularly. (Source: Wikipedia)

The road to Graaff-Reinet is incredibly beautiful. After the good summer rainfall this area got, the field was lush and green.

Lovely views along the road

We couldn’t have asked for a better day for our road trip either, as the weather forecast was for 35°C/95°F – that’s what we call a great summer day in South Africa! It was nice to finally stop halfway on our road trip and enjoy our ‘padkos’.

Halfway stop on our road trip

Boiling water for coffee & tea

Time to enjoy our ‘padkos’ in nature

There were a few places we knew of that we would like to visit in and around Graaff-Reinet. The Valley of Desolation, Camdeboo National Park and the beautiful Dutch Reformed Church were definitely on our list (and while we were there, a few more places popped up) – and we only had one day to try and see it all. We are going to tell you more about this in the next few posts.

In today’s post, we first want to show you our beautiful accommodation (and an equally beautiful hotel where we enjoyed dinner). Because Graaff-Reinet is such an old town, we were looking for a historic place to spend the night. And that’s exactly what we found in Langhuis Guesthouse.

Langhuis Guesthouse:

Langhuis Guesthouse is a historic townhouse that has been converted into a modern bed and breakfast. There is an expansive fruit tree garden and a lovely pool (which you would love on a hot summer day).

The ‘stoep’ (verandah) at Langhuis Guesthouse

There are four rooms at the guesthouse and while three rooms were occupied by overseas guests from Switzerland and the Netherlands, we got the only room that is located inside the old part of Langhuis.

Our beautiful king size bed

The room still has its original yellowwood floors, doors and reed ceiling. It’s really spacious and there is also a full en-suit bathroom. And best of all – it’s air conditioned. It was wonderful to walk into the room with the air conditioner set on 16°C/60°F.

Lovely touches in our room

Coffee station in the room

En-suit bathroom

Everywhere is evidence of how old the house really is and that it must date back to the previous century.

Small chairs

Communal television room and library

The kitchen and relaxation area are really beautiful. There is a comfortable couche and chairs and a fireplace (definitely not something we took advantage of, but it gets very cold here in winter and I believe then it must be great to curl up in front of a cozy fire).

Relaxation area with fireplace

What a beautiful kitchen

Kitchen cabinet full of antiques

More antiques hanging from the roof

Of course, we enjoyed the crystal-clear swimming pool to cool off. We spent an hour there chatting with the overseas guests – it’s always amazing what interesting people you can run into on weekends like this.

Swimming pool area

De Camdeboo Restaurant, Drostdy Hotel:

The Drostdy Hotel is a prestigious 5-star hotel and dates back to 1806. The hotel undertook a comprehensive refurbishment in 2012 while it still kept to its original historic charm.

We booked a table at the hotel’s De Camdeboo Restaurant earlier in the week. It rarely happens that everything is 100% perfect on a night out. But we can honestly say that the setting is stunning, the people friendly (and bonus, they speak our language) and of course the food and wine were of high quality.

Inside the De Camdeboo Restaurant

Our elegant table

The best wines in the country

Butternut soup as a starter

Steak and veggies

It was such a wonderful evening and when we left the restaurant, the garden was beautifully lit. We can’t recommend De Camdeboo Restaurant at the Drostdy Hotel enough if you want to enjoy real Karoo Cuisine.

Entrance to the De Camdeboo Restaurant

Old slave bell at Drostdy Hotel

Back to Langhuis Guesthouse:

After a lovely (and cool) night’s rest, we reluctantly packed up to drive back to East London. But not before we sat down for a delicious breakfast on the verandah.

Cold breakfast table & coffee/tea station

Breakfast view over the Camdeboo Mountains

Our breakfast table

Hot breakfast and Rooibos tea

Accommodation can be beautiful and food tasty, but when you are warmly welcomed and cared for, a good stay turns into a wonderful stay! Julia (guest house manager and host) welcomed us as guests when we arrived but greeted us as friends upon our departure. Not only did she and Rochele (host assistant) prepare a delicious breakfast, but with their genuine kindness they made sure we left Graaff-Reinet with fond memories.

Rochele (left) and Julia (right)

On the way back, we stopped at the highest point of Bruintjies Hoogte Pass between Pearston and Somerset East and took a few last photos. If you ever visit the Eastern Cape Province, look for the road that leads to Graaff-Reinet – you won’t regret it.

Views from Bruintjies Hoogte Pass

Next week we’ll take you to the Valley of Desolation and Camdeboo National Park, as well as a few other interesting places. You will enjoy the stunning views – don’t miss it!

Click here to read about our day at the Valley of Desolation and drive through the Camdeboo National Park.