Latest Stories...
The Lizard King of Namaqualand
Meet the Karoo traffic cop who sings hip-hop and takes his inspiration from a fat-bellied skink. Boeta Gammie AKA Akkedissie is happy days and good news all rolled up into one dynamic little Namaqualander.
Text and Photographs by Chris Marais & Julienne du Toit
Mining, Fracking and Acid Mine Drainage In South Africa - A Beginner's Guide
Valley of Old Bones
Come to Nieu Bethesda and peel back the historic layers of the Karoo, until you discover a world of snarling, big-toothed characters who were cut short in their prime.
By Julienne du Toit
Pictures by Chris Marais
The Angels Are Watching
Frans Boekkooi is an exciting sculptor who has found his heart space in the Karoo.
Text & Photographs by JULIENNE DU TOIT & CHRIS MARAIS
Battle for the Karoo
Fracking has become a dirty word in the Karoo, South Africa's semi-arid heartland. Shell and other energy companies are being opposed in their quest for methane by an unprecedented wave of public support. This culminated in a government moratorium on shale gas fracturing. But is the battle really over?
By Julienne du Toit and Heather Dugmore
Images by Chris Marais
When The River Runs Wild
The Great Floods of 2011 fell upon a searing hot Bushman Land like an all-consuming python. Karoo Space followed the Orange River from the Gariep Dam to the Augrabies Falls.
Karoo Space Team: Chris Marais, Ryno Ferreira & Dirk van Rensburg
Great Mountain Passes of the Little Karoo
So what’s your favourite South African mountain pass? Have you ever tried the alternate Route 62, where the knuckles occasionally go white? Come along, then…
Text & Photographs by CHRIS MARAIS
Gas Wars: Rise of the Anti-Frackers
By Julienne du Toit
South African anti-fracking groups had an extra Easter egg in their baskets this week when the government announced a moratorium on Big Energy plans to prospect for gas in the Karoo, the country’s semi-desert heartland.
On The Road Again...
The Silver Creek
Mountain Band in
their spanking new
Combi colours...
Fracking Will Ruin A Great Karoo Star Project
By Dr. Adrian Tiplady, Square Kilometre Array South Africa
In a little over twelve months, an international selection panel will select the host country of what I like to refer to as the last great (radio) astronomical adventure on earth: the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
On The Menu: Karoo Lamb - or Karoo Gas?
By Julienne du Toit
Many assume that development always means jobs. But in the case of the Karoo Gas exploration, that could mean the exact opposite.
Trading Post
The Book Everyone's Talking About
One of South Africa’s most successful independent publishing ventures, Karoo Keepsakes is more than a book. It’s a gift, it’s a traveller’s companion, it’s a dedication to the people and the places that make up the dry Heartland of South Africa.
Steel Flowers - Windmills of the Karoo
Welcome to Steel Flowers, the largest collection of windmill photographs in the world.
Here in the South African Heartland – the Karoo – the windmill (windpump) is the premier icon.
The Classic Karoo Map
Look closely at the detail on this map of the Karoo.
The little emblems and symbols speak of the distinct features of every region, every town.
Icons of the Karoo - Special Postcard Edition
What comes to mind when you think about the Great Karoo?
