Mountain Zebra National Park

Prepare to be awed by our Big Sky Karoo on display at the magnificent Mountain Zebra National Park. At 28 000ha, the park has become a perennial favourite with national park travellers for its craggy mountains, rolling plains and the exquisite Cape mountain zebra, amongst many other species. These zebras differ from the plains or Burchell’s zebra, having narrower stripes, absence of shadow stripes and orange facial colouration making them a striking sight. 

Great Fish River Museum 

The Great Fish River Museum is dedicated to showcasing the history of the hard lives led by pioneer settlers in the area dating back to the early 1800s.  The museum is located behind the town hall / municipal buildings in Cradock and housed in the second Dutch Reformed Church Parsonage, built in 1849. The building was declared a national monument in 1971.

The museum collection dates from 1630 – 2000. An Ox wagon, different horse carts and old hearses are on view. Displays in the main building show the history of Cradock, the 1820 Settlers and Voortrekkers. A new addition to the main building is a photographic display of Nelson Mandela and his life in the struggle. Also on the premises.

The museum is open on weekdays from 08h00 – 16h00.

Schreiner House 

Olive Schreiner House at 9 Cross Street in Cradock is one of the houses in which Olive Schreiner (1855-1920), the political activist, feminist and author of the world-renowned novel, The Story of an African Farm, once resided. The house, one of the oldest dwellings still standing in Cradock, was bought by A.A. Mutual life and restored as a joint project with the town council of Cradock. It was donated to NELM in 1986 and was declared a National Monument in 1986.

In the Schreiner House are Olive’s personal library, exhibitions depicting her life and those of her siblings and copies of all the books she wrote.

The bookshop at the Schreiner House sells a wide variety of books, including Schreiner’s most celebrated work, The Story of an African Farm, as well as other books by and about her. A pictorial display of her life can be seen in the house.

Commando Drift Nature Reserve

The 6 000 hectare Commando Drift Nature Reserve lies roughly 60 km north of Cradock on the road to Tarkastad. At its heart is the Commando Drift Dam, fed by four rivers.

Valley of Desolation

Located in the Camdeboo National Park outside Graaff Reinet, the Valley of Desolation is one of the natural wonders of South Africa. Sheer cliffs and precariously balanced columns of dolerite rise 120m from the valley floor against the timeless backdrop of the vast plains of Camdeboo. The product of volcanic and erosive forces, this cathedral has been formed over 200 million years and standing on the edge of these cliffs, it is easy to be swept back in time to imagine herds of wildlife, and maybe even a dinosaur too! The views from the valley are simply breathtaking and the valley receives more than 100 000 visitors every year. 

Egg Rock

Deep in the Karoo Heartland – along a dirt road and, seemingly, in the middle of nowhere – is an egg-shaped rock precariously perched on an unstable surrounding surface. 

Standing 10m high and weighting in at around 480 tons, you would have trouble cracking the mysterious “Egg Rock” to make an omelette!  Egg Rock is actually located just 8km outside of Karoo Heartland town, Cradock but visitors can be forgiven for feeling completely swept away from civilization by the silence and panoramic Karoo views that surround the dolerite rock.

Talking of cracking an egg, there is actually a chunk missing from Egg Rock where, legend has it, the rock was cleaved by lightening in 1937.  One can only imagine the ages that have passed in the formation of this giant egg, perched as it is so precariously on the edge of the Karoo plains.

Visitors should take some time to explore the ageless landscape around Egg Rock – beautiful “big sky” Karoo Heartland country – fresh air, blue skies and that sense of peace that seems to be so readily available in the Karoo. Egg Rock is a must visit if you are taking a road trip, a Karoo Crawl, through the Karoo Heartland. 

Cradock Nature Reserves

If you're looking for a hunting safari experience coupled with exploration of nature reserves and hiking trails, Thorn Mountain Safaris is the perfect destination. Our hunting expeditions are set amidst the stunning landscapes of the Eastern Cape, providing guests with the opportunity to witness breathtaking sunsets and immerse themselves in the beauty of nature. Contact us to learn more about the numerous nature reserves that can be explored in the Cradock area.