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
Three Birds Country House
At Three Birds Country House we offer spacious luxury suites and family rooms. Each room has an en-suite bathroom, a plasma TV with certain DStv ...
Jack of the Karoo
Jack of the Karoo is a beautiful Victorian house offering Karoo self catering in the heart of Sutherland. This home is perfect for overnight acco...
Kampfontein Gasteplaas
Kampfontein Gasteplaas is a lovely guest lodge offering accommodation in De Aar. We offer six rooms with a double bed, five rooms with twin beds,...
Dellville Country House
Dellville Country House is a working farm in the heart of the Great Karoo and offers guests the opportunity to reconnect with nature and discover...
Moonlight Manor Boutique Guesthouse
Moonlight Manor is located in the small Karoo town of Victoria West, halfway between Johannesburg and Cape Town on the N12. Accommodation is offe...
De Herberg Lodge
De Herberg Lodge is located in De Aar in the Northern Cape and offers accommodation for forty four guests. The lodge is a two hour drive from the...
Peperboom Cottage
Peperboom Cottage on Willemsrivier farm is perfectly suited for a family or students. Willemsrivier is more than just a farm, also a historical b...
Hearts Haven Guesthouse
Hearts Haven Guesthouse is situated in a quiet area in the heart of De Aar. The guest house offers queen and family rooms that have en-suite bath...
Papkuilsfontein Guest Farm
Soak up the peace and tranquility of this beautiful farm. Papkuilsfontein Farm, on top of a lovely plateau, nestles between the West Coast and Na...
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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