Karoo Times

01/06/2026

Most Karoo residents know the haunting call of an owl after dark, but few realise just how important these silent hunters are. Barn owls in farm sheds and eagle-owls patrolling river valleys are remarkable birds that play a vital role in the region's ecology.

The next time a distant hoot drifts across the dark, it is worth pausing for a moment. An owl is beginning another night's work somewhere beyond the reach of the stoep light.

28/05/2026

Small-town butcheries face rising costs and growing competition, but many stay responsive by focusing on locally-sourced diversification and quality. These businesses are proving that tradition and innovation can work hand in hand.

The greatest strength of the small-town butchery is still its relationship with the community.

27/05/2026

As autumn settles and the first hints of winter begin, the streets of Graaff Reinet and Nieu Bethesda fill with visitors carrying tasting glasses. Historic stoeps become places to gather and showcase everything from vintage wines to local history, and the peculiar magic of the Karoo itself.

What began as a modest idea has grown into one of the country's most distinctive wine tourism events. The Stoep Tasting Wine Weekend is a celebration of exceptional wines as well as two of the Karoo's most beloved towns.

Through one simple but innovative idea, the festival has transformed ordinary stoeps into meeting places for producers and wine lovers. The event has positioned the Karoo as a destination that offers memorable experiences and world-class wines.

26/05/2026

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26/05/2026

Barrydale is coming together for one of its own this June as the town prepares to host a weekend of awareness and fundraising for 27-year-old Jason Smuts, who is currently undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. From head shavings and rugby gatherings to educational talks and community braais, the weekend demonstrates the strength and heart of small-town Karoo support.

Although Testicular Cancer Awareness Month officially falls in April, Barrydale has decided the calendar can wait. On June 19 and 20, the town will host a wide-ranging awareness and fundraising weekend centred around Jason’s ongoing fight against cancer.

25/05/2026

A revival is taking place across South Africa as consumers begin turning back towards handmade goods and local craftsmanship. In the Karoo especially, old traditions of making and repairing are finding new relevance in a world increasingly tired of disposable products.

South Africans increasingly want products that feel human again. They want farm-baked bread and furniture built by local hands and clothing designed and stitched by the town seamstress.

24/05/2026

The road from the Cape province inland offers far more than a long drive home. From Karoo towns and mountain passes to quiet cafés and endless skies, slowing down can turn the journey itself into one of the most memorable parts of your holiday.

22/05/2026

Some people do not simply move through history. They leave part of themselves behind in the way others think. Donovan Roebert was such a man.

22/05/2026

The Karoo is still one of South Africa’s most fascinating contradictions. Deeply conservative in many ways, it has also become a powerful centre for creativity, attracting artists, writers and dreamers drawn to its isolation and immense landscapes.

The Karoo is still one of South Africa’s most fascinating contradictions. Deeply conservative in many ways, it has also become a powerful centre for creativity, attracting artists, writers and dreamers drawn to its isolation and immense landscapes.

21/05/2026

The Karoo might appear dry and lifeless for much of the year, but heavy rain reveals a land waiting patiently. From flowing rivers and emerging wildlife to renewed grazing and emotional relief, floodwater transforms the region almost overnight.

This surprising weather impact is part of what gives the Karoo its strange emotional power as a place of ancient sleep.