The village of Nieu-Bethesda is located about 30 minutes north of Graaff-Reinet and literally feels like another world. It is so different from most small rural towns as there is very little development around which makes the place feel sleepy and peaceful. The road to about 4km from the outskirts of the village was tarred a couple of years ago which makes getting to it a little easier, but town itself has no tar roads, no street lights, no petrol station or ATM, only really one little supermarket and barely two hands full of houses in the town itself.
This is the main road into the village and peak hour traffic means a car has to stop for a couple of horses, goats or geese to cross the road.
One or two of the roads still have wagon stones on the corners. These were put up to stop turning ox wagons to bump into the buildings. Not that there are any ox wagons around anymore. Only a donkey cart or three.
The old Dutch Reformed Church in town was consecrated in 1905 and stands out among the surrounding buildings.
One of the main intersections in town. Dead quiet on the busiest of times.
The road in front of the Nieu Karoo Country Restaurant was pretty busy as we walked past to the river bed on our fossil tour. Found out a little later that there was live music by a fairly well-known band on.
The main road through Nieu-Bethesda. Before crossing you look left, look right, look left again, stop in the middle to take a photo, walk back to get another angle, then across to where you are going and when you come back a little later perhaps one car would have come past.
Not really much use for cars in town…
Nieu-Bethesda and its roads are best explored on foot
The road out of town past the Tot Hier Toe Padstal.
