Day 62 - Kokerboom Woud/Gannabos

Here on the hill's north faces are forest’s of 'Quiver Trees' (Kokerbome), so very Karoo and indigenous to this neck of the woods, and we have never seen one, in the flesh before.

The only indigenous 'Quiver Tree' forest in the Winter Rainfall area in South Africa is on this farm, 'Gannabos'. No lie, hundreds of thousands in one forest spread over several very large mountains.

Just like the 'Wolfberg Cracks', and 'The Arch' a life-time bucket list is, a visit to Gannabos Farm. That word... 'awesome'! The Hantam-Karoo and more particularly the ‘Gannabos Farm and Guest Cottages’, is awesome too!

The 'Gannabos Farm', 55km from Calvinia on the R355 towards Loeriesfontein is over 20,000 hectares of genuine Karoo veld with the Hantambergge overlooking from behind and partly included. The extent of the farm stretches up into the Hantam Mountain range offering Merwe different grazing options, according to the seasons.

In the riverbed there are untold hectares, currently cultivated and planted with Wheat, and now only awaiting the follow-up winter rains. Weather is late this year, as a result of the previous early rains, if this makes any sense? 🤔 These early rains have caused havoc all along the road in this massive farm. Burst dam's, washed away drifts and small bridges, gone!

In terms of irrigation, the farm is divided into many cultivated lands surrounded by ground, banked up to create dams, in which crops are sown and watered by means of 'flood irrigation' and also to combat erosion. When the river comes down, these many 'cultivated dam's' are flooded and the water just drains from there.

We spent the day washing clothes and generally conducting domestic affairs, really just spending 'downtime' catching up and consolidating. Later in the afternoon we drove several kilometres into the farm to view the amazing ‘Kokerboom Forest’. (Quiver Tree’s)

We had planned to move on tomorrow in the direction of Springbok and Port Nolloth. However, 'Nakkie' (our hostess) has given us special permission, to hike 7km up the riverbed and into the mountains to see a breading pair of African Black Eagles and their nests! ln addition, a 'freebie' night-over, all on the house. Everyday and night spent in the Karroo, makes it more difficult to leave and move on! 'Meatloaf' once sang, "...Too much is never enough🎼🎹🎼..."!

Love, Peace and Light
M&K
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