Here are five small towns worth visiting… Known as the “Gem of the Karoo,” Graaff-Reinet is also the fourth-oldest town in South Africa and boasts beautifully preserved Cape Dutch architecture.

Today, Arnols works at the soon-to-be-opened Karoo ­Origins Fossil Centre in Graaff-Reinet’s iconic Church Street. “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity — for me this is a real dream come ...