Gariep Dam

The Gariep Dams major tourist attractions include the Gariep

The Gariep Dam,situated alongside the N1. Gariep Dam is the largest dam in South Africa with a radius of 360 square kilometres which forms part of the Orange River Development Scheme. The sheer magnificence of this more than 100km long and 24km wide dam, is indeed sufficient to testify to the exceptional engineering and success of Africas largest water supply scheme.

Gariep Dam has two main tourist attractions in the Free State, namely the Gariep Dam Nature Reserve and the Resort Aventura Midwaters.

Gariep Dam is the most central point of the Republic of South Africa. An excellent road network connects the town to the Eastern Cape, North and South Namibia and Botswana.

Gariep Dam also has a airfield with a double tarred runway. International gliding championships are held annually in December at the airfield. Overseas gliders agree that Gariep Dam is the mecca for gliding competitions to set up world records for gliding.

Attractions at Gariep Dam

• Gariep Dam Wall
  Arrange with the Department of Water Affairs for a tour through the dam wall. There are 13 km of passages and halls within the walls of the Gariep Dam. During the yearly water festival, church services and dances are held in the dam wall where up to 400 people are present.
• Gariep Nature Reserve
  The reserve covers an area of 13 500 ha when the dam is full. Game that you may encounter on the 25 km long tourist roads are the following: Black and Blue Wildebeest, Blesbuck, Springbuck, Cape Mountain Zebra, Ostrich, Red Hartebeest, Vaal Rhebuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Duiker and Steenbok
• Gariep Power Station
  The first hydro-electric power station built by Escom. Tours through the power station can be arranged at