Gariep Dam Nature Reserve

The Gariep Nature Reserve surrounds the Gariep dam, which borders the Eastern Cape and the Free State. R701 runs on the Free State side from Donkerpoort on the N1 to Bethulie. R390 runs from Bethulie to Venterstad in the Eastern Cape. R58 runs from Venterstad to Norvalspont in the Northern Cape.

The dry land area of the reserve covers 11'237Ha, and the water covered area 36'487Ha. The dam hold about 6'000 million cubic litres of water, covering an area of 374 square kilometers.

The Gariep Dam is the biggest dam in South Africa and was completed in 1972. It is 100Km long. Its water irrigates the dry Karoo.

Game

Springbok (largest population in any reserve in the country), Cape mountain zebra, klipspringer, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, ostrich.

Things to do

Water sports: sailing, power boating, canoeing, skiing, angling.

There is a tour through the dam wall.

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