The
capitol and largest town of the Central Karoo, was named after the
fifth Duke of Beaufort, father of the Cape governor, Lord Charles
Somerset. This 'oasis', as it was referred to by the early residents, is
also the oldest town in the region and was established in 1818 to curtail
gun smuggling and general lawlessness in the region. Today it still acts
as an oasis to motorists travelling on the N1 between Cape Town and
Bloemfontein. Beaufort West should however not be discarded as a
"stop-over-town". It offers plenty to those who are willing to
explore. For instance, the region is home to the largest variety of
succulents in the world. Eco-tourists and scientists come from afar to see
and study these interesting plants. The nearby 60000-hectare Karoo
National Park was proclaimed in 1979 to protect this unique environment
and habitat to a diversity of flora and fauna, including antelope such as
eland, black wildebeest, gemsbok, Cape mountain zebra, springbok and red
hartebeest, 38 species of reptiles, 5 species of tortoise (largest number
in a conservation area in the world), 174 species of bird life, and even
the endangered black rhino. But before you take to the plains of the
Karoo National Park, we recommend an investment in good quality gloves,
since the only climbable trees (the only option when in flight of an angry
rhinoceros) are incredibly thorny - and few and far between!!
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