A visit to Karoo Origins – The Fossil Centre is essential for any palaeontology enthusiast, but don’t miss out on exploring other remarkable palaeontological attractions nearby.
Just a stone’s throw from the famous Owl House in Nieu-Bethesda, the Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre is a small yet captivating museum dedicated to the prehistoric creatures that once roamed the Karoo. Named after the South African palaeontologist James Kitching, this centre features engaging interactive displays, fossil replicas and insightful information about the ancient ecosystems of the Karoo.
For those who love outdoor adventures, Ganora Guest Farm offers hiking, mountain biking, and game viewing, along with access to various fossil sites and stunning preserved rock paintings and engravings from ancient times.
While Camdeboo National Park is celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife, it also harbours significant fossil-bearing rock formations. Visitors can traverse the rugged terrain and delve into the history of prehistoric life through geological displays and guided tours.
Don’t overlook the Lootsberg Pass and surrounding Karoo outcrops, where exposed rock formations belong to the Beaufort Group – renowned for its therapsid fossils that illustrate the evolutionary journey from reptiles to mammals.
Whether you are passionate about deep time, evolution, or the origins of life on Earth, the town and its surroundings offer unmissable opportunities for exploration and discovery!
Thx for Infos. I think it’s a must have. I’m planning a visit.
best regards from Bielefeld, Germany
Frank
Good afternoon,
My husband and I are visiting Graaff Reinet 4-6 November 2025 and are very keen to visit the Karoo Origins Fossil museum. Please can you let me know your opening hours and entry fee? And where we find you? Also whether there are any historical/ archaeological walking tours in the Graaff Reinet district, as we won’t have time to visit Nieu Bethesda?
Many thanks and kind regards,
Jeanne