Things to see...

Lake Gariep is surrounded by three provincial game reserves namely Oviston Nature Reserve, Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve and the Gariep Nature Reserve. The Gariep Dam Nature Reserve is situated between the dam and Bethulie on the Free State side. Oviston Nature Reserve is on the southern side of the dam. The Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve reputedly supports more game than any other sanctuary in the Free State.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been drafted by the MEC's of the three provinces, to effectively join the three reserves and create a conservation area in excess of 85 000 hectares, this has yet to be signed. There are many eco-tourism activities available including game viewing by private vehicle, walking trails, fishing and bird-watching. The area is also very popular for most kinds of water related adventure tourism activities.

This is a semi-desert area so it can get blindingly hot during the day, followed by nights in which the temperature plummets. Due to this climate, the area is quite dusty which helps to give the extraordinary sunsets experienced here. The landscape consists of vast, open grassland with low "koppies" (small mountains) and is truly part of South Africa's "Big Sky" country.

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