Nieu-Bethesda Snapshot
A sleepy Karoo village circled by the Sneeuberg Mountains, Nieu-Bethesda has its origins as a church town for the surrounding farmers. What really put it on the map though was the arrival of eccentric artist Helen Martins and the legacy she left behind in the form of the weird and wonderful Owl House.
Continiuing with this creative legacy, Nieu-Bethesda has become a magnet to artists and like-minded visitors, with a decent smattering of small galleries, restaurants and coffee shops, a micro brewery and pub, a fossil museum, and more than enough beds to accommodate everyone.
The surrounding Sneeuberg Mountains (dominated by the iconic Compassberg), lie at a fairly high altitude (1350m), making the Karoo summers somewhat more bearable here than most of the Groot Karoo. Hiking trails, quite country roads, mountain bike routes and horse riding options are all on offer.
For an ultra laid-back country escape with a Bohemian twist, Nieu-Bethesda is a must-do on any Karoo roadtrip.
Things To Do
- Visit The Owl House on Martin Street. A typical Karoo home transformed by Helen Martins into a surreal world of colour and light, concrete and ground glass sculptures, the experience can't but leave one feeling moved.
- The Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre showcases an interesting collection of fossils found in the area, including life-size models of prehistoric animals.
- Take a donkey cart trip. Trips around the village can be arranged via the tourist office.
- Much of your time will be spent strolling the quiet gravel streets, taking in the local sights and atmosphere, popping into a coffee shop to escape the heat, browsing the galleries. The church and water mill are both historic buildings worth taking a look at.
- The Sneeuberg Brewery and Deli are located on the edge of the village and offer a range of craft beers that are far removed from your average SAB offering.
Karoo Rest Cottages
Nieu-Bethesda, Eastern Cape
The Rest farm has seen it all. From ox wagons to motor cars, telegrams to the internet, this is a fourth generation Karoo farm, set deep in the Sneeuberg Mountains near Nieu Bethesda. The Rest is a ho...
Rate Guide
From R800 nightly for a cottage
Stone Haven
Nieu-Bethesda, Eastern Cape
Stonehaven is a Large property surrounded by gardens and natural landscape of the mountains and trees. There are only two houses on the property, of which one is a one-bedroom cottage and the other a ...
Rate Guide
From R825 to R1450 per unit, depending on unit and time of year
Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Porterville • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Uniondale • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wellington • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland