Karoo Space is an independent storytelling and publishing house based in Cradock, South Africa, founded by award‑winning photojournalists Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit. It chronicles the people, landscapes and culture of the Karoo, South Africa’s semi‑arid heartland. Over two decades the team has reported from more than 100 towns, producing narrative nonfiction, photography and guides that weave history, ecology and everyday life. Its catalogue includes the Karoo Keepsakes series; the Karoo Roads quartet of travel essays; Road Tripper Eastern Cape Karoo, a compact guide to the region; and Moving to the Platteland, a handbook for city‑to‑country migrants. Their titles have earned recognition at the Richmond Bookbedonnerd Festival’s South African Independent Publishers’ Awards: Karoo Keepsakes I and II won Book of the Year, Road Tripper took the 2017 travel category, and Moving to the Platteland won in 2018. Beyond books, Karoo Space contributes features and photo‑essays to outlets such as Weg/Go travel magazines, LitNet and others, bringing Heartland stories to wider audiences. Marais and du Toit also teach travel writing and freelance journalism through SA Writers College, mentoring new voices. Blending reportage, oral history and strong visuals, Karoo Space functions as both record and champion of the region, foregrounding communities, heritage and environmental issues—from anti‑fracking campaigns to the science megaprojects around the SKA—through deeply reported, place‑based storytelling.

Source: Code for Africa

Last updated date: July 2026

Location:
Cradock, South Africa
Year the organization started publishing:
2009
Languages:
English
Afrikaans
Type of coverage:
Regional
Area of coverage:
Karoo

Content

Editorial coverage:
Generalist, focused on multiple topics
Type of content produced by theme:
Environment
Lifestyle
Entertainment and culture
Entrepreneurship
Journalism genres:
Chronicles and non-fiction
Interviews and reporting
Narrative journalism
Journalism coverage types and techniques:
Engaged, community-driven or participatory journalism
Explanatory journalism
Collaborative journalism
Tech platforms and other mediums used:
Newsletter
Social media platforms
Podcast
Facebook
Instagram

Audience and reach

Social media audience

Facebook number of followers:
13,000
Twitter number of followers:
1,284
Instagram number of followers:
1,760

Management and team

Founders

Female:
1
Male:
1
Founders:
Chris Marais Julienne du Toit
Directors:
Chris Marais, Julienne du Toit

Team

Full-time employees:
2
Part-time employees:
0
Freelancers or consultants:
0
Volunteers:
0

Business structure and revenue sources

Organization tax status:
For-profit

Why is this profile included?

This media outlet is part of our directory because it meets SembraMedia’s inclusion criteria: it produces original content, serves the public interest, and works with independence and transparency. This profile was developed using information provided directly by the media outlet, through surveys or interviews. We aim to keep the information current, but SembraMedia does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness, and recommends verifying any key details with the media organization.

In SembraMedia we use own and third party cookies for analytical purposes that allow us to track, monitor and analyze your browsing and behavior to make improvements to the product based on the analysis made, as well as own technical cookies that allow the proper functioning of the website. You can accept all cookies by clicking the "Accept" button or configure or reject their use by clicking "Reject". More information in the Privacy and Cookies Policy.