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In
the heart of the Upper Karoo area in South Africa, some 27 km (17 miles) from the town of Colesberg in the Northern Cape Province (state) a private game reserve has been established on 25 000 acres of pristine Karoo veld; an exclusive getaway for a lucky few to experience and enjoy an extensive range of fauna, flora and other activities in a luxurious, relaxing and exclusive environment on Quaggasfontein. This name means “the drinking fountain of the quaggas”, a quagga being a recently extinct species of zebra. One of these fountains on Quaggasfontein is now used exclusively as the source of “aQua Crystal” mineral water which is bottled on site.
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Quaggasfontein has been pursuing ambitious conservation objectives to re-establish the environment to the state that existed before the advent of commercial livestock farming some two hundred years ago. This has entailed the removal of all commercial animals and the implementation of an extensive erosion rectification programme together with numerous erosion prevention measures.
The beneficial impact of these measures soon became apparent
and was followed by the re-introduction of most game species that previously roamed the area, as well as certain selected non-Karoo indigenous species that now thrive in the healthy climate. (Interestingly, the extremely healthy climate persuaded settlers of old to eradicate the vast game herds in order to make way for commercial livestock like sheep and cattle. These animals flourished in the area but their inbred selective grazing habits, together with poor farming practices, impacted on the environment in a most adverse manner.)
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| Quaggasfontein now hosts some 50 noteworthy animal species including the highly endangered white rhino and the endangered
bontebok. Most of these animals occur on the
southern half of the reserve. Non-indigenous (to the
Karoo) species include bushbuck,
blue wildebees, nyala, lechwe, waterbuck, klipspringer, southern reedbuck, impala, kudu, fallow deer and Hartmann`s zebra.
The northern half of the reserve
contains impala, springbok, warthog, mountain
reedbuck, common reedbuck, ostriches, black
wildebeest and buffalo. This area is presently being developed
as a large buffalo, cheetah and hippo enterprise. Hippo will be
re-introduced to the
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Seacow River (meaning “Hippo River”) into the same hippo pools where they were crudely wiped out many years
ago. The introduction of cheetah to this area is
contemplated given the vast
numbers of springbok and warthog as
a food source.
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During the months of February to November each year a limited number of bed nights are made available to clients who do not have time for a safari entailing excessive overland travel and do not have time for a safari experience that does not meet with expectations, whether it be a photographic, bow hunting or rifle hunting safari. Your host will be Fred Roux, the owner of Quaggasfontein, a qualified professional hunter and hunting outfitter. Highly motivated and dedicated personnel who cater to the needs of the most discerning clients support Fred.
We offer you a safari in complete exclusivity as only one party of guests is hosted on the property at a time. Your party will therefore have 25 000 acres at your disposal to enjoy an exclusive African nature experience in a first world manner, in luxury and without the usual worries about malaria,
cholera, bilharzia, security or the lack of suitable communications infrastructure. If this appeals to you, kindly have a look at what we have to offer in our "big sky" environment.
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