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Nature
Reserve in the red Kalahari
It is not only photographers who go into raptures: Gondwana
Kalahari Park is characterised by a uniquely picturesque
landscape of elongated dunes and valleys of red sand,
yellow grass and green acacias. In the private nature
reserve the Kalahari shows just how incredibly beautiful
it is. |
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Guests can
choose between Kalahari Anib Lodge (with rooms for tour
groups and chalets, set slightly apart, for individual
visitors) and exclusive camping sites (with private
toilet, shower and sink). There are several hiking trails
through the park, and scenic drives are offered as well. |
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The mean annual
rainfall in this part of the Kalahari is between 200
and 300 mm – which is far more than the usual
average for a desert (less than 100 mm). However, the
water seeps into the sand in no time, and whatever accumulates
in the clay or lime pans has soon evaporated again.
Surface water is a rarity. |
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100 km² area of Gondwana Kalahari Park
is home to animals which are typical for the
Kalahari - like Springbok, Gemsbok, Jackal and
Bat-eared Fox as well as Ostrich, Kori Bustard
and many other types of birds. The park represents
two vegetation types: the tree and shrub savannah
of the southern Kalahari (grasses and acacias)
and the Karas dwarf shrub land which is actually
classed with the Nama Karoo. The fact that there
are hardly any nature reserves in the southern
Kalahari is another reason for the significance
of the park.
Those with an interest in geology will also
get their money’s worth. The huge Kalahari
basin with its great masses of sediments started
to
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form after
the ancient continent of Gondwana had broken apart about
120 million years ago. The longitudinal dunes, which
are hundreds of kilometres long and up to 30 metres
high, began to take shape only 16,000 to 20,000 years
ago, however. In nearby Stampriet it can be seen, by
the way, how rich in ground water the Kalahari is: in
the seasonal Auob River’s valley it bubbles up
in several artesian springs. |
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Where
there is water, there is man, too. Hunters and gatherers
roamed the area already thousands of years ago. Around
the 16th century Nama of the 'Red Nation' came to settle
there; Hoachanas was regarded as the main seat. Later
on groups of Oorlam (related to the Nama) arrived from
the south. Hendrik Witbooi, the Captain (leader) of
the Witbooi Nama, sold tracts of land – including
the area of today’s park – to settlers of
European origin towards the end of the 19th century. |
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In 1937
a German prince, Friedrich Hermann zu Solms, bought
farm Dabib, which was almost 50,000 ha (500 km²)
in size, and installed a manager for the time
being. When, as an antagonist of Hitler, he lost
all his possessions during the Second World War
he came to live at Dabib with his family in 1948.
He was buried at his favourite spot at 'Solmscher
Posten'. His son Friedrich Wilhelm later sold
parts of Dabib, including a piece of 10,000 ha
(100 km²) called Anib, which continued to
be used for sheep farming; in 1992 it also became
a guest farm.
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The grave of Friedrich Hermann of Solms-Baruth
at 'Solmscher Posten' in the Gondwana Kalahari
Park. |
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The Gondwana Desert Collection acquired farm Anib in December 2004 and transformed it into Gondwana Kalahari Park: sheep farming was ended, internal fences were dismantled and watering places suitable for game were set up so that the animals are once again able to move about freely. On scenic drives guests of the park get totally enthusiastic about the abundance of game - and they always wonder about the cross at 'Solmscher Posten'... |
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