Graham Hobbs Photography Plus

Graaff-Reinet, gem of the Karoo, set in a loop of the Sundays River, in the crown of surrounding hills. Tandjiesberg, Lokasiekop, the Valley of Desolation and Spandau kop. Up there on the mountain, overlooking the town, where the black eagles fly, a toposcope points out the Sneeuberg range, the razor edge of Kompasberg, and away, over the vast flatness of the Camdeboo, the Cockscomb mountains, in whose rain shadow it lies. But above all, the Valley of Desolation, whose ancient dolorite stacks glow in light of the rising or the setting sun and whose welcoming gates can turn to the gates of heaven or hell as the sun goes down behind them.