THINGS TO DO
The Observatory Museum (10 Bathurst Street; 046 622 2312) is a unique celebration of Victorian life. There are interesting displays going back to the days of the earliest diamond hunters, but the most fascinating for me is an original camera obscura, which was the only one in the southern hemisphere for many years. Its clever mirror system reflects the outside world onto a table so you can keep an eye on the town. R10 entrance fee. At The Eastern Star Museum (4 Anglo African Street; 046 622 7042) you can explore the history of one of Grahamstown’s first newspapers for free. The first edition of The Eastern Star hit the streets in 1871 and it still exists in Joburg as The Star. During the 19th century Grahamstown was the home of the English language press, at one time supporting 14 newspapers! Park at Grey Dam and meander up the jeep track, following signs to the toposcope. A toposcope is a marker, usually found at the highest point of an area, that points to places of significance. This toposcope shows distances and directions to surrounding towns. It’s a great place to have a picnic and enjoy the view over Grahamstown east towards the sea. The walk is around 5 km return. The charming royal red postbox at the corner of Bathurst and Somerset streets has been in use since at least 1860 – it’s the oldest working postbox in South Africa. Post a letter to someone special. The postal service used to put original franking marks on letters posted from this box. This isn’t being done at the moment, but the tourism office is trying to reintroduce the service. If golf is your vibe, book a round at the new Belmont Golf Club – a beautiful 18-hole course surrounded by Albany thicket. The course is only a year and a half old: It costs R360 for 18 holes if you’re not a member. Where? In the Belmont Valley, about 7 km south-east of Grahamstown. Contact: 079 637 8153; thebelmont.co.za Basil is a military history buff and he also loves his books. He can tailor a historical tour to suit your preferences. My favourite offering is his literary tour: As you walk the streets, he’ll tell you all about the great writers who have called Grahamstown home over the years, and you’ll also learn about the history of the town. Contact: Call the National English Literary Museum ( 046 622 7042) and ask to speak to Basil. The literary tour is free. Game parks surround Grahamstown. One of the best and most accessible is Amakhala Game Reserve off the N2 about halfway between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth ( 046 636 2750; amakhala.co.za). The reserve is home to the Big Five and you might very well see them all on a guided game drive (R500 – R1 000 per person depending on the season.) A tamer option is the Thomas Baines Nature Reserve, just 15 km from Grahamstown on the road to Kenton-onSea (R343). You can see buffalo, kudu and other antelope species on a game drive, or picnic next to Settlers Dam. Entrance fee R30 per adult; R15 per child. Contact: 079 496 7978 The Makana Botanical Gardens are also worth a visit, especially if you want to escape the crowds during the National Arts Festival. The gardens are centrally located (entrance on Lucas Avenue off Somerset Street) and entrance is free.