Get to know the Karoo

• Richmond, book central • Sheep-shearing near Graaff-Reinet

Richmond, on the N1 about halfway between Cape Town and Johannesburg, is full of surprises. It’s a Karoo town, which means it’s a farming town – but it’s also a place of books and art and, above all, a whole lot of friendliness. TEXT AND PHOTOS JAC KRITZINGER

The windpumps along the Ongers River that runs through town contribute to the typical Karoo atmosphere in Richmond.