Vanwyksvlei, Upper Karoo
The only thing remotely marshy or wet about the tiny town of Vanwyksvlei, which means Van Wyk's marsh, is its position close to the dam that goes by the same name, built way back in 1882.
The inadequacy of its name becomes all the more obvious when you consider that Vanwyksvlei lies in what must be the driest, and hottest, region in the country, better known as Dorsland, or thirsty land, 100 km north of Carnarvon.
And that all roads that lead here are gravel and dusty as a result.
Calling it the 'middle of nowhere' is no misnomer. Vanwyksvlei truly is one of several 'lost' towns of the Northern Cape; the equivalent to the abandoned ghost town in the John Wayne movies on the Wild West. One can only imagine that back when the dam was built the town was a lot more vibrant. Anecdotal tributes, from those who once lived here, refer to times when there was a cricket academy with a boys and girls hostel.
All that remains today, is a smattering of homes, a pretty NG church, a co-op, a kafee, a butchery and the Van Wyksvlei Hotel in Hoof Street.
On closer examination Vanwyksvlei's name is not as far off the mark as it appears. Just south of town is Van Wyksvlei pan, one of several salt pans in the area. Another lies 35 km west of here, just off the R367 towards Brandvlei, known as Holpan. The large Verneukpan lies just northwest of here, between Swartkop and Diemansput, whilst Flaminksvlei and Ysterdoringspan, often connected after heavy rains, lie towards Brandvlei.
Van Wyksvlei Dam, whilst not particularly full, still has a lovely earthen wall, beautiful views and flamingos that have begun to frequent the shallows.
In the area: view San rock art, or visit Kenhardt, Putsonderwater and Prieska.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Wapad Gastehuis
Wapad Gastehuis is situated in a tranquil area on the edge of town and is comprised of historic sandstone buildings which have been renovated to ...
Sweetfontein Boutique Farm Lodge
Sweetfontein Boutique Farm Lodge offers a tranquil stay and comfortable accommodation in Britstown in the Upper Karoo. The farm offers a wonderfu...
Die Heks se Huis
Die Heks se Huis is an old carriage house (circa 1905) located in the heart of Sutherland. The cottage is within walking distance of restaurants ...
Anra Rusgenot
Anra Rusgenot is guest house situated in Richmond, exactly halfway between Johannesburg and Cape Town on the N1, and is ideal for a stopover or l...
Garden Cottage Guest House
Garden Cottage Guest House iis situated in a lovely garden, just 1km from the centre of town, offering guests comfortably furnished rooms. Guests...
Karoo Gariep Tented Camp
The Karoo Gariep Nature Reserve Tented Camp is situated halfway between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Upington making it an ideal stopover. The ten...
Willemsrivier PersKussing
PersKussing is a two-bedroom farm cottage in Nieuwoudtville sleeping four guests. The bedrooms are furnished with two three-quarter beds. The roo...
Traveller's Joy
Traveller's Joy offers comfortable accommodation in Colesberg. From here you are within walking distance of a number of restaurants and cafes. Al...
Die Blou Nartjie
The Blou Nartjie welcomes you to the heart of Calvinia. We would love nothing more than to host you and be the home of your Karoo experiences. Th...
Noteworthy attractions
Karoo Gariep Conservancy
Karoo is a “quenna” word meaning “dry and hard”. Gariep is also a “quenna” word meaning “big water”or river. The Karoo Gariep Concervancy is foun...
Tankwa Karoo National Park
The 80 000 hectare Tankwa Karoo National Park, proclaimed in 1986 and still in a development stage, is at present in a veld recovery phase and it...
Gariep Dam Nature Reserve
The Free State's largest nature reserve is a combination of the 36 487 ha Gariep Dam on the Orange River and an 11 237 ha game sanctuary on its n...
Akkerendam Nature Reserve
Akkerdam Nature Reserve lies just outside the little town of Calvinia, which is found at the foot of the Hantam Mountain (mountain of the red bul...
Rolfontein Nature Reserve
Situated in the upper Karoo where an infinite sky and horizon seem to go on without end, the Rolfontein Nature Reserve is found roughly 16 kilome...
Doornkloof Nature Reserve
Lying peacefully in the mountainous upper Karoo of the Northern Cape, just outside the little town of Colesberg, Doornkloof Nature Reserve is pos...
Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve
Just 10 kilometres outside of the little town of Nieuwoudtville, between the towns of Van Rhynsdorp and Calvinia, lies the Oorlogskloof (war gorg...
Hantam National Botanical Garden
Established in 2007, the Hantam National Botanical Garden lies on the Bokkeveld Plateau just outside the town of Nieuwoudtville. It is regarded a...
Molteno Pass
Said to be South Africa's first mountain pass, Molteno Pass links Beaufort West to Loxton, in effect joining the oldest town in the area to the N...
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