• Things to Do & See
    Things to Do & See

Activities

Annually in December, the Dam hosts an international Glider championship which attracts a worldwide attendance.

Nearby there are two game reserves, and the the dam has the usual amenities, including 2 olympic size swimming pools, camping and hiking, put-put, tennis courts, bowling green, banks, bars and restaurants.

The Gariep Village offers Supermarkets, Bottle Stores, Restaurants, Pubs, Garage, ATM’s, Big screen Sports TV.

Plenty of activities for all.

Gariep Dam

Information & History

Below we have information on and history of  Gariep Dam. The SunRose Group offer accommodation in Gariep Dam at a number of locations, please view the guesthouses and the accommodation options on this site. Below some information on Gariep Dam.

Climate

Hot in summer with temperatures reaching around 39 degrees Celsius.

Very cold in winter with the temperature plunging to below -10 degrees Celsius.

History of the Area

The Gariep area is famous for being the host to the large and harsh British “Boer War” Concentration camp.

The Concentration Camp cemetery can be seen on the R58, about 4 km’s right at the Gariep Dam intersection on the Venterstad / Colesberg road.

About the Gariep Dam

The Gariep dam is the largest dam in South Africa and was built in the 1970’s with the primary goal to tame the mighty Orange River and supply water for agriculture to a vast area of South Africa.

Gariep Dam is one of 3 such dams on the Orange River and its catchment area is the Lesotho Highlands.

It’s a spectacular sight when the Gariep Dam overflows; this happens on average every approximate 10 years.

Water is released from the upper dam area at Oviston into a long 56 km tunnel that connects into the “Fish River” From there the water is distributed to various dams and rivers with the primary goal to supply water to the farmers for irrigation purposes.

Fishing Safaris

A holiday at Gariep Dam is any fisherman’s dream, with all fishing spots being a mere 1 to 1.5 kilometers away. Great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life - the peace and quiet of this little town will capture your heart, and you will experience nature in its purest form.

Activity Brochures with all the relevant information are available in each room.

Boat Excursions

The Dam is South Africas largest and boasts some of the best Watersports, Yachting and Fishing.

Activity Brochures with all the relevant information are available in each room.

Game Viewing

The Gariep Dam area boasts two Great Game Reserves, namely the Gariep Dam Reserve and the Oviston Game Reserve.

Activity Brochures with all the relevant information are available in each room.

Scenic Tours

Activity Brochures with all the relevant information are available in each room.

Dam Wall Tours

Try a unique experience by booking a Dam wall tour.

Brochure in the units with all contact info.