Astro Tours (astrotours.co.za), based in Prince Albert, offers several guided stargazing tours led by experienced astronomy enthusiasts. Each of the tours takes advantage of the many cloudless nights and dry climate over the Great Karoo. Tour 1 is the main tour and it takes guests to Sutherland (the largest telescope in the southern hemisphere) as well as the South African Astronomical Observatory. Tour 2 includes one or two evenings in the towns of Prince Albert or Olive Grove and Tour 3 can be completely customized for any location or event. Reservations are recommended at least six months in advance and Astro Tours can suggest several nearby accommodations.
The Dennehof Karoo Guest House (dennehof.co.za) is the oldest surviving structure in the town of Prince Albert. In addition to its seven individually designed guest rooms, it offers guided cycling and hiking tours of the area. The three cycling tours travel through the Swartberg Pass, Meiringspoort, Montague Pass and Gamkaskloof and range from one-mile ascents to 11-mile descents. The Gamkaskloof journey takes the entire day and travels approximately 30 miles each way. Each of the tours include bicycles, safety gear, water bottles, as well as back-up equipment and snacks and lunches on the longer tours. The hiking tours range from approximately five to 12 miles in length and the popular Sunset Rour provides wine, cheese and snacks while watching the sun set on the Karoo plains.
Story Weaver Tours (storyweaver.co.za), based in Prince Albert, provides an evening Ghost Walk Tour of the town. Led by registered tour guide and Prince Albert resident Ailsa Tudhope, the tour travels through the streets and covers the mysterious past of the town's most haunted locations. The tours takes approximately one-and-a-half hours to complete. For visitors who prefer a more historical approach, there is the Historical Walk, which visits the site of the British garrison camp, the Neo-Gothic church, Victorian mansions, and other well-preserved structures.
The SoetKaroo Wine Estate (soetkaroo.co.za), located in the center of Prince Albert, is the only registered winery in the Great Karoo. Managed by the husband and wife team of Herman and Susan Perold, they produce a variety of dessert wines and offer visitors tours of the vineyard and cellar with a focus on their process that ranges from soil analysis and growing to bottling. Wine tastings are provided in the Perolds' dining room and their award-winning wines are also available for sale.
