Vaalkloof Boskamp

Vast expanses of space and silence, drought and blazing summer sunshine. Across the arid landscape, the Orange River flows, at places in a sluggish tide, at others in a powerful explosion of sound and fury. Were it not for the river, much of the region may well have remained bleak and populated only by nomadic bands of Bushmen.

This is not a soft, gentle landscape. The wide open spaces and distant horizons are characterised by crisp dry air, clear skies, flamboyant sunsets, brilliant starry nights, and enormous sheep farms. To serve the needs of the farmers, typical South African dorps, each dominated by an imposing Dutch Reformed Church, are inhabited by genuine, hospitable people with wisdom that comes from respecting Nature's rules.

Once you've allowed the eerie Kalahari atmosphere to become part of you, you'll soon heed the call to return to this vastly different landscape, one of the world's truly unspoilt ecosystems. Its vast open spaces and dune horizons, its predators and clear starlit night skies filled with the sounds of howling jackals and hooting owls creates a very magical atmosphere not to be missed.