At a first glance, the arid Karoo which transfrontiers the north-eastern part of the Western Cape and southern parts of Northern Cape, looks deserted and barren, but if you look closely you will see that there are numerous welcoming towns inhabitat by people who have their own stories to tell, to whoever wishes to hear it...

The name 'Karoo' comes from karusa a Khoi word that means 'dry', 'barren' or 'thirsty land' and this is exactly what you would think as you first enter the Karoo. It is hard to imagine that these vast dry plains were once an inland sea, with lush green vegetation and huge mammals roaming its shores. Its only after the Gondwanaland break-up approximately 200million years ago, that the region turned into the semi-desert area we know today.

The "Oasis of the Karoo", Beaufort West, is the oldest town in the region. With a colourful history his typical platteland town was once inhabited by the Bushman and many of their rock art sites can still be seen on sourrounding farms and nearby Nelspoort.

Many choose Beaufort West as a destination simply to explore the ecology and to walk through the streets and have a good look at the beautiful old buildings that display a mixture of architectural styles dating back to the mid nineteenth century. Most of the little towns of the Karoo have their own unique style of architecture, which deveoped around simple structures with prominent covered verandahs as protection against the harsh sun.

One building that you cannot miss is the Neo-Gothic Reformed Church on the N1; it was built in 1892 and designed by James Bisset. This beautiful church is situated on what is affectionately known as "Amen Corner", with its spire forming the focal point of town. Another landmark on the N1 is the jail house that stands in the middle of the road, and no one to this day really knows why a jail house was built here.

Be sure to explore the isolated but welcoming villages of the region which sit between the flat-topped koppies in desolate valleys. Names like Vosburg, Griquatown, Witput and Three Sisters, speak of fascinating stories that await to be told in vibrant Karoo colour.

To the south of the Karoo is the 75 000ha Karoo National Park where one can see the endangered Riverine Rabbit and the Black Rhinoceros. The Quagga, which until recently was thought to be extinct has also been 'resurrected' and roams freely on the grounds of the park. It is also home to lots of indigenous buck, mountain zebra, wild ostrich and five tortoise species, and for the birders there is an abundant range of species that call the park home.

Go on the fascinating fossil trail and learn more about the fossils that were discovered in this area. Round off your exploration with a scenic drives, take a challenging hiking trails into the koppies, go biking in the mountain trails or take a leisurely stroll through town.

With so much to do and discover, the Karoo is a top-class eco-destination.

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