GANORA GUEST FARM AND EXCURSIONS
Give us one day and we give you 250 million years!
Experience true Karoo hospitality on Ganora, a working sheep farm 7km from the world renowned hamlet of Nieu Bethesda, 60 km from Graaff-Reinet, also near Middelburg and Cradock.
Guided tours to Anglo Boer War engravings, rock shelters with Bushman paintings and a visit to a private fossil & artifact museum with specimens dating back some 250 million years are offered on the farm. The owners will also guide you on a fossil walk to share their discoveries with you where you will also be able to see some Bushman engravings. Sheep shearing is explained and demonstrated on request.
Comfortable 3 Star accommodation, which is AA Highly Recommended, for self-drives or groups offer the option of relaxing in the peace and tranquility of the Great Karoo. You will be able to experience the magnificent Karoo sunsets in the vast open spaces. Guests may choose the self catering cottage, which has two rooms en-suite and one kiddie’s room adjacent to the main room with a lounge and kitchen, or any of the en-suite bedrooms that like the cottage at first was used as sheep kraals, coal and enjin rooms. Now these rooms, with its thick, uneven stone walls provide very comfortable accommodation, full of rustic charm.
Meals are available if you choose not to self-cater. After dinner you will have the privilege to enjoy one of the best star gazing opportunities in the country and go on a night drive.
For the more adventurous there are 4 x4 trails, hiking, swimming in river pools, bird watching or try to climb Compassberg (2502m). Furthermore you can explore Nieu-Bethesda, visit the Owl House and Camel yard of Helen Martins, enjoy the coffee & craft shops, do horse riding, take a donkey cart tour or even make time for holistic treatments.
Day trips can be taken to Cradock where you can visit Olive Schreiner’s museum and the Mountain Zebra park. In Graaff-Reinet you can visit the various museums, the Obesa Cactus Garden, enjoy a walk through the town with the most historical buildings and end your day with a sunset visit to the Valley of Desolation.
