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Upper Karoo:
Small, isolated but welcoming villages with fascinating, widely differing histories,
distinct Karoo architecture and imposing churches rest in valleys between desolate,
flat-topped koppies. Throughout the Karoo, you can visit game farms and nature reserves
teeming with South African wildlife.
Colesberg:
This quiet Karoo town which serves a thriving horse and sheep stud district, has retained
a few interesting reminders of the past. Make a point of visiting the old horse-driven
mill pub, the quaint Cape Karoo cottages in Bell Street and the Kemper Museum, which
includes a section on the Anglo-Boer War.
De Aar:
The second most important railway junction in Southern Africa. The town has 110 km of
track and a traffic rate of 92 trains a day. The house once occupied by Olive Schreiner
(one of South Africa's famous authors) contains a museum and a restaurant.
Hopetown:
Best known as the site of the first discovery of diamonds in South Africa. The town serves
the surrounding fruit, stock, wheat and potato farms. The Gazella Game Reserve, on the
banks of the Orange River, provides sanctuary for gemsbok, eland, kudu and springbok. The
ultimate outdoor experience in the vicinity includes white water rafting, game-viewing,
bird-watching and hiking.
Marydale:
North-west of the village of Marydale, at Koegas, a quiver tree forest provides an unusual
spectacle. Water sports and angling are popular pursuits at Boegoeberg Dam Resort, 40 km
from Marydale.
Prieska:
Set on the south bank of the Orange river at the foot of the Doringberg, Prieska is
renowned for its semi-precious stones. A British fort (Anglo-Boer War) perches on the
summit of the Prieska Koppie (hill). Impressive collections of succulents are found at the
Prieska Koppie Nature Reserve and the Ria Husiamen Aloe Garden. The weird halfmens and
quiver trees flourish in the area, as do scores of succulents.
Vanderkloof Dam:
Part of the Orange River Scheme, this is the second largest dam with the highest dam wall
in the country (108 m). The dam attracts a great number of birds and water sports
enthusiasts. The Eskom Hydro Power Station and Douglas Hey Museum are open to the public.
Two reserves encompassing a typical Karoo landscape lie on the southern shore of the dam.
The Rolfontein Nature Reserve provides sanctuary for large numbers of game, including an
enormous eland population. The Doornkloof Nature Reserve supports kudu, hyena, steenbok
and bat-eared fox, among other game. Against the arid landscape, wildlife is easily seen.
Over 180 bird species have been recorded, including the fisheagle, blue crane, malachite
kingfisher and red bishop. |
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| Source: SA-Venues.com |
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