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Sights on your way to the Kalahari -
Rememeber you are on your way to the Kalahari - Don't rush - The road is long but you will get there, eventually! For me, part of the fun is to stop from time to time and look at the sights along the road. As it is a long road, you probably don't want to stop too long, however. I recommend that you stay over either in Vryburg, Kuruman or Upington. Kuruman and Upington has much to offer!Let me give you a brief overview of some things to see along the road to the Kalahari. Most of them can be photographed from your car, but you should be on the look-out for them and not rush past.
Even if they make Joburg pretty!
Even if they make "Joburg" or Johannesburg, as pretty as this, it is not for me! Although I have taken one or two pictures of Joburg from time to time, it is mostly to show the pollution. If you have never been there before, visit by all means. After Joburg, you will be able to enjoy the Kalahari so much the more.
The first thing of notice for me, if I don't take the wrong road, is the extensive wetlands at Biessiesvlei. This large permanent wetland area has a large bird population, both permanent and migratory birds, I am not a birder, so cannot give you any advice. I can, however, appreciate a large expanse of water, with an appreciation that only Kalahari pople can really understand. The is good fishing to be had in the B iesiesvlei area, besides bird watching.
The next town of note is Vryburg, and besides the fact that my father grew up in the area and that several of my cousins still form there, it holds little attraction for me. One of the Vryburg hotels, and several guest houses in the area (of which I have no knowledge or experience!) may be a good overnight spot, if it is after four-o-clock.
The next large town after Vryburg is Kuruman. But before you get there, there is the "road out of hell". Although this piece of road is probably thought of by roadmakers as one of their top achievements, it gives me the creeps. There is a single straight section of this road thar runs for well over a hundred kilometers in an absolutely straight line. Driving this monotonous, straight road, is one of the worst driving experiences I can think of.
That terrible straight road!
Besides being of considerable historical interest, as one of the early missionary station where such famous people as Robert Moffat, and David Livingstone, who married Moffatt's daughter, lived, it was an essential stop-over and supply point of early travellers, exploresres and missionaries. Besides Moffat and Livingstone, such people of note as Farini, the man who claimed to have discovered a lost city in the Kalahari, all went past here. My father was born on a farm near Kuruman.
Lovely fountain at the Eye, Kuruman!
The next area of interest is the mines around Kathu. Yes I know it is a hell of a name, and I have never seen an explanation of its meaning. Look like one of those names made up of a collection initials, or maybe some-one's wife.
Kathu has large Iron ore mines. The discard rock have been disposed of in kilometers long man made mountain ridges, and I hve seldom, seen anything uglier in my live. This is called progress (I guess). On the left hand side there are some real ridges. In my opinion, God has done it much, much better. Unfortunately the pictures doesn't show the uglieness of the man-made side.
 What man has made |
 What God has made! |
Just before you come to mines at Kathu, there is a garage (petrol station, gas station) next to the road. Here they have parked one of the gargantuan trucks which are used to transport oreat the mine. "Bigfoot", eat your heart out! This one is the grand daddy of all trucks! It takes a full 170 tons of ore in a single load!
Big brother! Two guys are inspecting the
underbelly of the "beast". Their legs are
just visible near the right wheel.
The road to Olifantshoek, which you must take, turns of to your right about 70? kilometers past Kathu and is easy to miss. If you arrive at Postmasburg, you have taken a wrong turn, and either have to go back, or take a 150 km "gravel" road.
More information
Tour South Africa.comKalahari dunes info
Witdraai - Camel Breeding
Kalahari pans
From Gondwanaland to Kalahari
Kalahari Bushmen (Komani San, Saasi, !Kabee language)