Hanover is a tiny village next to the N1, halfway between Johannesburg and Cape Town, and it is here where you will find the famous Coffee Baa-ar. This Coffee Baa-ar is part of the Hanover Lodge, and is the only restaurant in South Africa that serves delicious, fluffy sheepuccinos, merinos and dorpers. All are the names of drinks are inspired by the main activity in the area: sheep farming. The Coffee Baa-ar also offers home-cooked pub meals and are fully licensed.

The Hanover Lodge is the only Art Deco style building in the town, where the usual Karoo architecture dominates. Hanover is quite an interesting town, having been the place where the famous writer Olive Schreiner lived (you can still visit Olive Schreiner house) and where Zwelenzima Vavi was born (he is the General Secretary of the powerful Cosatu movement). History is still very much evident, as you will see in the donkey carts, the old water channels, and the imposing Duth Reformed Church dating from 1907.

Karoo Gariep Nature Reserve
Offers accommodation, a wedding venue, bird watching, night drives, horse trails, fishing and mountain biking.

Night Drives:
Experience the night life of the Karoo - the night drive departs from New Holme after dinner with PC as your guide. And even though the Karoo is an arid region, the diversity of nocturnal animals can be astounding. Possible sightings could include Aardwolf, Cape fox, Bat-eared fox, African wildcat, Aardvark, Porcupine, Striped polecat, African striped Weasel, both Small and Large spotted Genet to name but a few species, and if you are really lucky maybe even the tiny rare Black footed cat.

3-Day Horse Trails:
This is an unguided horse trail over some 35 km. The trail starts at the New Holme Guest House, and will take you through sweeping Karoo landscapes to a tented camp in the mountains complete with bush shower and flush toilet! The next day entails a 10km circular ride that will end up at the tented camp again for your second night. On the third day you will ride back to the New Holme Guest House. Groups of max. 4 riders and min. 2 riders can be accommodated. we arrange packed meals for the 2 days, including breakfast on the 3rd day.

Mountain Biking:
All of the dirt roads on the reserve are mapped and you can ride as far and long as you wish. You can also book the Karoo Seekoei Mountain bike trail at www.gkcycle.co.za for a 5 day mountain bike trail all along the scenic Seekoei River. Your luggage will be taken care of, and return transport can be arranged.

Fishing:
The Seekoei River is a unique system meandering through this arid region. The river has a rich diversity of aquatic life, with carp and catfish the most common angling species caught in this system. The dam at New Holme also offers excellent angling opportunities for the avid angler.

Koi San Etching Walk:
Join PC on a 2 km guided walk in the koppies and learn about the early history of the San and their relationship with nature. He will show you exquisite San rock etchings (or petroglyph's) and tell you about the conflicts between the San and early stock farmers of the area. The Anglo-Boer war also left its mark in the Karoo and PC will elaborate on the skirmishes and battles of a hundred years ago that took place in the area.

The Area: The Karoo
With the first rains, the seemingly arid soil of the Karoo bursts into abundant life, its hardy succulents complementing the sweet grasses on which the region's merino and fat-tailed sheep graze. The everpresent windpumps testify to the countless streams flowing between fissures underlying the dry but fertile soil.

Small, isolated but welcoming villages, a distinct Karoo architecture and imposing churches rest in valleys between desolate, flat-topped koppies. Take a short trip from Colesberg, an essential stopover for all travellers and a sheep-farming centre, to Hopetown, the scene of South Africa’s first recorded diamond find.

Return, passing Orania, a self-proclaimed Afrikaner volkstaat, before making your way to Vanderkloof and the Rolfontein Nature Reserve on the shores of the great Vanderkloof Dam.

Indulge in watersports or relax on its secluded banks which stretch 100km to the Doornkloof Nature Reserve on the man-made lake's southern shores. Throughout this wonderful part of the great Karoo, you can visit, hunt or hike on game farms and nature reserves teeming with every species of antelope. And, like the country they live in, the hardy inhabitants of the Karoo make you feel immediately at home in their beloved countryside.