Situated on the northern bank of the Orange River, just 48 km north-east of Colesberg and 28km from Tzamenkomst, is the town of Gariep, which holds the bragging rights of being home to the largest manmade dam in South Africa.
Neighboured by small stock farmers and private land owners, Gariep Dam offers its visitors an array of activities, including bird-watching, angling, bush camp picnics, game drives, water sports, and the chance to view the spectacular wildlife.
If you want to find out more about some other fun activities to catch up with, here are some of the fun things to do in the area.
Fun Things To Do In Gariep Dam
1. Go fishing in the Gariep Dam with the Angling club
Trying out some fishing adventures over here at the Gariep Dam while pairing up with the Angling Club comes in first on our list of fun things to do here. An adventure you get to enjoy with the region’s residents and fellow visitors and tourists alike.
The adventures that come with being present at this dam have to do with going fish hunting with any of its fish species, mostly yellow fish, tilapia, and mudfish.
What other activities do hold here?
Arriving visitors and tourists alike can also opt to participate in the monthly celebration led by the Angling Club chairman, which revolves around giving away a massive silver trophy to the person who finds the largest specimen.
2. Explore the Oviston Nature Reserve
Enjoying your leisure hours visiting the Oviston Nature Reserve comes on our list of fun things to do at the Gariep dam. An isolated reserve on the island is blessed with a peaceful environment and is void of noise since you will never come across any cars.
Showing up here is to get to enjoy its wildlife, which is made up of herds of zebra, springbok, wildebeest, ostriches, gemsbok, and other delightful creatures you will normally come across at a zoo.
What other thing does happens here?
Visitors showing up here can also choose to go cycling or hiking to the top of the koppies while enjoying the magnificent view of the dam.
3. Spend a night at the lodging space in Venterstad
The hotels and resorts of Venterstad are designed to suit the taste and experience of enjoying a deep and dark quiet by both visitors and tourists alike, looking forward to passing the night during their stay in the area.
Why should you lodge here?
Here, visitors get to book a space for themselves in any of its comfortable and spacious rooms, with the additional benefit of being able to explore the Gariep Route as well.
4. See the Nguni cattle at Gelykfontein farm
The Gelykfontein Farm is a farmhouse in Gariep Farm, offering both visitors and tourists alike the opportunity to try something different during their stay in the area with a tour of its Nguni herd.
Why you should be here?
Right over at this farmhouse, visitors get to be part of its guided tour that has got to do with the genealogy of these indigenous cattle, with stories as well to tell about the initial scorn of his neighbors, who are now also converted to the enchanting speckled cattle.
Address. Morning Glory Cottages, Gelykfontein Farm, Gariep Dam District .
5. Drive over the Bethulie Bridge
The Bethulie bridge is another tourist attraction to stop by at for Visitors looking forward to stock up their Instagram profile with some beautiful photos of their holiday experience to the delight of their friends and followers.
Visitors showing up here gets to come along with camera lens in their company, to take a picture of the elegant lines of this structure which holds the bragging rights of being the longest road/rail bridge in both Africa and the southern hemisphere running across the wonderful views of the Orange/Gariep River.
Why you should visit here?
Showing up here is more like for self fulfillment purpose of being one of few persons to have visited the longest concrete structure that spans the convergence of several rivers that drain into the Gariep, one which they might as well choose to take photos of as well.
Address: Unnamed Road, Bethulie-Gariep Dam 9992, South Africa.
6. Go bird-sightseeing at the Orange River
There is a long list of places to go for bird sightings during your stay in Gariep, but one that stands out in the midst of them all is the Orange River, made popular for its associated floodplains, which are unique.
It has got a rare sight to behold, as it is one out of few locations of which you get to come across the sight of over 220 species taking their flights around the area.
Talking of its different species of birds, here guests get to set their sights on the Blue Crane, the national bird of South Africa, and many more dancing in the fields.
What should one expect to see?
Just as highlighted, visitors get to set their sights on unique species such as the bald ibis, fish eagle, goliath heron, seagulls, and black eagle.
7. Visit the historical Anglo-Boer War sites
Stopping by the historic Anglo-Boer war sites might not allow you to witness some of the craziest and wildest adventures in the area, but it is one way to try something different.
Why should you lodge here?
Being a concentration camp made up of memorial sites and cemeteries, this is an ideal location to explore the past lives of individuals with legendary status in the area.
8. Go River Rafting
Go river rafting down the Gariep River. Here, visitors will be thrilled and fascinated by getting in touch with the history of these parts and their people.
This is something adventurous you definitely would want to be part of as well, making our list of fun things to do in Gariep. An adventure in which you get to tag along with any of its residents in arranging a fun trip downriver in a group.
It is an experience that involves having a smooth ride on its rivers and water bodies, while getting in close touch with its package of wealth of stories about what goes on up and down the river.
What else happens here?
It also has a picturesque environment, which can be very tempting to come to hang out in, especially if you are a nature enthusiast.
9. Take a tour of the Gariep Dam wall
There is a popular saying that goes “your stay around Gariep dam wouldn’t be more fulfilling if you choose not to stop by at the Gariep Dam Wall” one of South Africa’s greatest civil engineering projects.
It is a magnificent sight to behold in terms of its architectural structures, a rare sight of which you might never get to come across the whole country as a whole.
What to expect?
Here, visitors gets to check out this magnificent architectural structure built with enthusiasm by its engineers.
Address: R33, Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa.
10. Book for your stay at the Sunrose Guesthouse group
The sunrose guesthouse group in gariepdam is one offering affordable lodging options, particularly for visitors either on a business or holiday trip to the area in anyone of its affordable guest house open for bookings.
Situated near Gariep Dam Village, it is safe to say this guesthouse is easily accessible from all corners of the area, specifically for those in emergent need of a place to pass the night.
Why you should lodge here?
The Sunrose guesthouse group is designed for both visitors and tourists alike looking forward to have a single night sleepover or wanting to spend some extra days in the area.
Address: 14 Hamerkop St, Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa
11. Enjoy the luxury of Adamsview accommodation
The welcoming lodging facilities of Adamsview Accommodation in Gariep dam is one made famous and popular for having one of the best views of inland South Africa, as well as being a luxury accommodation at reasonable rates.
Offering standard self-catering accommodation to both residents and visitors in the area, this is a lodging facility equipped and well-furnished with spa baths, a fireplace, a kitchen, a baai, and a garden area.
Why you should lodge here?
Here, guests gets to catch and enjoy a good rest in the most peaceful and quiet of environment; an ideal location known for its Tranquillity.
Address: 40 Loerie St, Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa.
12. Enjoy your stay at the Gariep A Forever Resort
The Gariep A forever resort just as its name insinuates Is one situated at the largest dam in South Africa intercepted by the Gariep Dam Nature Reserve, housing the different wild species of antelope and the Cape Mountain Zebra.
It is a lodging facility surrounded by water bodies, meaning it also affords its guests, specifically water enthusiasts the opportunities of enjoying the various water sparkling attractions of game-viewing by boat, windsurfing, sailing, jet skiing, canoeing and rowing.
What other services do they render?
The Gariep A Forever resort also has three different conference facilities open for booking, preferably for guests on a business trip to the area, one of which holds the capacity of accommodating between 12 and 300 delegates.
Address: 2 Fiskaal St, Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa.
13. Satisfy your taste buds at the Welcome to Tjailatyd Restaurant
In the busiest of places in the whole of Gariep Dam, you will find this cozy family restaurant with a sumptuous meal menu to satisfy its guests’ cravings, helping sort out their hunger needs as well.
Made famous and popular for its À la carte menu, this should be your preferred destination should you happen to find yourself in the area, one which you not only get to enjoy an amazing dining experience, but also enjoy watching Rugby on its projector size views.
What other functions does it renders?
Tjailatyd restaurant house also has pool areas designed for hosting events such as family reunions and anniversaries in its holiday social environment.
Address: Gariepdam, South Africa.
14. Grab your pie of pizza at the Rustiq Pub & Grill
The Rustic Pub & Grill is a fast food outlet situated in this area of Gariepdam, unique and different from the rest since it offers vegetarian-friendly and special diets, along with its pie of pizzas loaded with different flavors.
It is a preferred destination for residents in the area since it mostly centers on dishing out the very best of South African food and delicacies, prepared to suit your taste by its professional chefs.
What do they offer?
This is a restaurant house famous for its delicacy of Skaapkop which you would always get to find on its meal menu, though they as well do offer pizza and chicken cheese.
Address: Fiskaal St, Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa.
15. Dine with the very best of Karoo cuisine at the Stijl Gariep Hotel
The De Stijl Gariep hotel, aside from being a lodging facility, also has an in-house eatery offering unique and tasty delicacies based on its organic, fresh, and local ingredients of karoo to spice up its guests’ dining experience and desire.
With its in house eatery large and big enough to accommodate up to 100 guests, it can also serve as an ideal location for hosting difference and various functions; be it business meetings, wedding anniversary and birthday celebrations.
What do they offer?
Open to guests and visitors all day long, they do offer for breakfast, lunch and dinner the freshest of dishes from its seasonal ingredients of karoo that has got the special dietary requirements for Vegetarian, Vegans, Halaal, Kosher and diabetics patients.
Address: 2 aasvoel str, Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa.
16. Enjoy a midmorning snack at the Quenna Bistro
The Quenna Bistro is another restaurant house coming on our list of places to visit in Gariepdam, of which guests, in particular, are ushered in to come to enjoy its wonderfully made mid-morning snack of mostly tasteful sammies, kids’ chicken strips, and milkshake.
Showing up here is solely to come enjoy the nice meals it has got to offer complemented by the efforts of its ever friendly staffs willing to assist you out in enjoying its dining experience to the fullest.
Why you should visit here?
The Quenna bistro restaurant house does offer nice meals that are reasonably priced on its comprehensive menu, as well as being an ideal location to come enjoy a good view of the dam.
Address: A, Forever Resort, 2 Fiskaal St., Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa.
Also, Read 20 Best & Fun Things To Do In Still Bay (Stilbaai) South Africa
17. Relax over at the Lake Gariep Guesthouses
The Lake Gariep Guesthouse is a lodging facility situated in one of the largest dams in South Africa, catering for shelter and a roof over the heads of tired travelers and holidaymakers in search of a comforting zone to relax.
Situated in an area as well crowned as a Tourism for the past decades, guests showing up here also gets to enjoy Game viewing, bird watching, freshwater fishing, boat cruises, water sport, gliding, dam wall tours, bowling and much more.
Why you should lodge here?
Guests lodging here gets to enjoy a pleasant and comforting stay in the area in the company of either their family and friends.
Address: 20 Tarentaal St, Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa
18. Enjoy the welcoming stay at Stoneridge Guesthouse
The Stoneridge Guesthouse is an Accommodation Establishment in this regional area of Gariepdam, giving that penthouse feelings to its guests and visitors alike since it is isolated and nestled on the hills of Gariep Dam and overlooks the intriguing, yet forlorn valleys of the Bo-Karoo.
Since it is isolated up in the hills, it personifies peacefulness and has a luxurious space made up of double rooms, each with its own en-suite facility, surrounded by a gorgeous garden
Why you should visit here?
The Stoneridge Guesthouse is a full package itself when it comes to its luxurious facilities, which include safe open parking, a splash pool, and a fully licensed bar.
Address: 4 Kiewiet St, Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa.
19. Enjoy the self-catering accommodation of Angela’s guest lodge
The welcoming facilities of Angela’s Guest Lodge are yet another nice option of places to stay during your visit to the Gariep Dam area, a beautiful and picturesque self-catering accommodation designed particularly for guests and visitors’ convenience.
It is considered a preferred destination to reside at, should you be in search of a convenient space to enjoy a tranquil retreat, while also exploring the serenity of the Karoo and Gariep Dam.
Why you should stay here?
It has got its lodging facilities made up of a Safe enclosed plunge pool area with braai and lapa, alongside a designated Honeymoon unit for honeymoon couples.
Address: 4 Hamerkop St, Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa.
20. Enjoy value for money at the Abancidou Lodge
The Abancidou Lodge is yet another resort in the Gariep Dam area, very accommodating, well-maintained, and neat for the delightful stay of its guests who are either on a holiday or business trip to the area.
You can be confident that even on a tight budget, you’ll be able to enjoy a hot shower, guest amenities, a spotless room with crisp linens, and many more.
Why you should stay here?
It has basic amenities such as free parking and high-speed internet and also accommodates some other children’s activities.
Address: 2 Fisant St, Gariepdam, 9922, South Africa.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Gariep Dam seems to be the preferred destination of outdoor enthusiasts as there are a whole lot of activities to interest them; especially as it concerns exploring it’s wildlife made up of endangered Cape mountain zebra, ostriches, blue wildebeest, eland, springbok, hartebeest and more.
There is also a nearby reserve which turns out to be a bird lover’s paradise and boasts as many as 242 different species of the flight animals.
