NCTA Travel Guide 2012 - Northern Cape Tourism

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KAROO
With the first rains, the seemingly arid soil of the
Karoo bursts into abundant life, its hardy succulents
complementing the sweet grasses on which the region’s
merino and fat-tailed sheep graze.
Small, isolated but welcoming villages, distinct Karoo
architecture and imposing churches rest in valleys
between desolate, flat-topped koppies. Take a short trip
from Colesberg, an essential stopover for all travellers and
a sheep-farming centre, to Hopetown, the scene of South
Africa’s first recorded diamond find.
On return, travellers pass the self-proclaimed Afrikaner
Volkstaat Orania en-route to Vanderkloof Dam and the
Rolfontein Nature Reserve on its shores. Indulge in water
sports or relax on its secluded banks, which stretch
100km to the Doornkloof Nature Reserve on the manmade
lake’s southern shores. Visit, hunt or hike on game
farms and nature reserves teeming with every species of
antelope.
www.experiencenortherncape.com 39