A half-day hike along the canyon will take you from Ganora Farm to De Toren, offering the opportunity to experience the Karoo's wildlife at close quarters.

The Canyon is a stunning natural phenomenon that runs from Ganora farm to De Toren, a few kilometres from Nieu Bethesda.
The half-day hike will bring you close to the Karoo's wildlife; you could see anything from otters and tortoises to buck and Black Eagle nesting sites. The walk runs beside a water furrow. Horse-riding down the canyon is another option.

You will need permission from the landowner to hike the canyon. Your place of accommodation in Nieu Bethesda will provide contact details.

Compassberg (2502m) is the highest peak in the Sneeuberg range and second highest in the Eastern Cape. It takes four to five hours to climb to the top and descend again. The base of the mountain is a forty minute drive from Nieu Bethesda.

The mountain offers different degrees of difficulty, depending on your route. The walk up the northern slope is not hard and the way is marked with piles of stones. From the top, the koppies roll beneath you, Graaff-Reinet sits in the distance and on a clear day you can see up to 20km from the coast.

Come prepared! Compassberg is extremely exposed to the cold Karoo winds. Always take water and more clothes than you think you need.

You will need permission from a landowner to climb Compassberg. Your place of accommodation in Nieu Bethesda will provide contact details.

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 area and provides a haven for over 370 zebra, black rhino, buffalo and antelope such as eland, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, gemsbok and mountain reedbuck.

Camdeboo National Park surrounds the town of Graaff-Reinet and covers 19 405 hectares. The renowned Valley of Desolation, sometimes referred to as the “Cathedral of the Mountains”, provides visitors with awesome panoramic views and an unforgettable experience. Magnificent dolerite pillars rise up to heights of 90 – 120 meters, overlooking the vast karoo plains.

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 cattle. Today, Cradock is a typical Karoo farming town with a number of historical attractions.

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 falls within the Camdeboo National Park. Much of Graaff-Reinet still has the feel of a 19th century town with some streets restored and as many as 200 buildings declared as national monuments.

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 national bird.

Horse riding is offered at several places in the village.

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 village. Alternatively, wake up early to conquer one of the two mountain bike trails in the area: Compassberg and Ganora.

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 Outsiders Restaurant is on the 'main road'of Nieu Bethesda and you can watch the traffic of cows, donkeys, dogs, cats, geese and the occasional people go by. The Village Inn is in the same street as the Owl House and you can either sit in the inn’s cosy interior of soak up the sun in the peaceful back garden.

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