Xhariep Region

Miles and Miles of…Nothing is often how the Xhariep Region of the Free State is described. The Xhariep, or ‘Transgariep’ is dominated by sheep farms and cattle ranches in dry, sparse ‘Karoo’ biome vegetation and grasslands, and covers the south western area of the landlocked central province of South Africa

The Xhariep is bordered to the south by South Africa’s largest inland body of water – the Gariep Dam (also known as the Xhariep Dam) for which it is named – Xhariep being the  Khoi San / Bushmen name of the ‘Orange River’.

The man-made Gariep Dam provides a small inland ‘sea’ complete with little islands, and spills the ‘mighty’ and life-sustaining Orange River to wend its way north-west through the arid semi-deserts of Northern Cape to the Namibian border on the Atlantic Coast. Dammed up at what is also sometimes called ‘Lake Gariep’, these waters provide endless watersports fun…

The Xhariep region is rich in Boer War history, San Rock Art and very ‘Afrikaans’, an attribute that fades a little as one drives further east into the Eastern Free State toward more ‘English’ towns like Clarens, though it is characteristic of the Free State as a whole. The towns of the Xhariep are small, sleepy and full of red and green roofed Victorian style homes and buildings, and the roads between them are long…very, very long.

The Gariep Dam is undoubtedly the Xhariep Region’s premier attraction, and is so large that it is also referred to as a place, offering game viewing, camping, mountain-biking, hiking and gliding besides watersports that include powerboating and sailing. It can be accessed via Bethulie and at the ‘town’ of Gariep Dam that has grown on its banks further west.

The Gariep Dam Nature Reserve offers sightings of rare Cape Mountain Zebra and Springbok galore among other game, and the Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve offers game viewing and hunting where the Caledon River meets the Xhariep River (the other name for ‘Gariep River’ or ‘Orange River’) to flow into the dam from the Maluti Mountains.

Other attractions in the Xhariep Region include John Varty’s Tiger Sanctuary just outside the tiny town of Philippolis and hiking in the Aasvoelberg (Vulture Mountain) just outside Zastron. This latter area is en-route from the Eastern Cape toward Bloemfontein, and is very popular as a biking route.

The very southern corner includes the recently restored and increasingly popular N6 town of Smithfield, and its quaint little neighbour, Rouxville. These small towns are set in slightly greener and hillier area bordering Lesotho and invite those looking to really get away from the modern world in peaceful attractive country surroundings. Farms offer offroad trails and hiking and you can explore the area for San Rock Art.

The region supports various rural farming concerns in addition to sheep-farming and cattle – including horse-breeding, mostly Arab and Apaloosa horses. The main town of Trompsburg is built on the back of quality Merino & Dorper Sheep farming, but is also known for its horse studs as the open plains are perfect for keeping horses economically.