The turn-off to this village lies on the N9, 27 kilometres north of Graaff-Reinet. From there, a good dirt road traverses the Voor Sneeuberg and leads to Nieu-Bethesda.

The Kompasberg is the highest point in the Sneeuberg range. It received its name in 1778 when Cape Governor Baron van Plettenberg, accompanied by Colonel Jacob Gordon, visited the mountain while on a tour of the interior and noted that the surrounding countryside could be surveyed from its summit.

In recent years, the peaceful village has attracted much artistic talent, including one of South Africa’s leading playwrights, Athol Fugard, who achieved world acclaim for his thought-provoking plays such as Master Harold and the Boys.

The Owl House: the Owl House is considered one of South Africa’s top 50 heritage sites. Its garden is cluttered with an intriguing assembly of concrete statues: owls, sheep, camels, people, sphinxes, and religious symbols, created over more than 30 years by Helen Martins and her assistant, Koos Malgas.