Kalahari farms for sale

Wiltinet Properties

Our team at Wiltinet Properties, with the largest listing of Kalahari farms for sale, has more than twenty years experience in satisfying clients needs, we have a large stock of game farms, game ranches, coastal and other properties for sale.
Our team of experts can advise on all aspects of game farms and game farming in South Africa.

Kalahari Farms for sale

KALAHARI NORTHERN CAPE: WILDLIFE AND NATURE - AFRICA'S BEST.

CLIMATE:

The Kalahari is a semiarid region with an average rainfall of 150 mm. in the southwest to 350 mm. in the northeast. The irregular rains fall mostly during dramatic thunderstorms often accompanied by strong winds and dust-storms, between October and April. The first rains transform the red dunes, covering them with the fresh yellow flowers of the dubbeltjie, (Tribulus tereestris). Within 2 weeks fresh green grass begins to grow. Temperatures vary greatly from -11º on cold winter nights to 42ºC in the shade on summer days when the ground surface temperature reaches a sizzling 70º C. During the winter months, when frost is common, the ground surface temperatures can be 25º C lower than the temperature of the air. Winter in the Kalahari is a cool, dry season from May to August, followed by a warm dry season from September to October and then a hot, wet season from November to April.

GEOLOGY

The modern Kalahari Desert, a small remnant of the original dune desert, lies within the Kalahari sand beds - a massive expanse of sand that covers 1 630 000 km² from just north of the equator to the banks of the Orange River in South Africa. The sand originated from rocks, lying in a shallow basin, that were eroded by wind over millions of years. The red colour of the dunes is caused by iron oxide, which covers each sand grain. The rainfall of the area is too low to reduce this iron oxide, and a wonderful variety of colours can be found in the desert sand. The dunes of the Kalahari hide the ancient sedimentary rocks which are believed to be rich in fossil deposits. The dunes are fixed and are no longer moved by the wind. They do, however, owe their characteristic shape to wind which exposes the moist sand beneath. The moist sand is then eroded further. The sand that is removed is deposited on the southwest side of the dune, which results in a more gentle gradient. These longitudinal dunes are called Seif dunes, an Arab word meaning 'sword'.

OFF ROAD DRIVING

For the benefit of organisms living in the dunes and riverbeds, and for your own good, please stay on the roads. Off-road driving has a marked impact on the sensitive ecosystem, not only biologically, but also from an aesthetic point of view. The tracks made in the riverbeds and in the dunes are unsightly and take a very long time to disappear.

RIVERS

The Nossob, Auob and Kuruman Rivers are ephemeral rivers, meaning that they only flow for a short period during a very good rain season. A portion of the Auob River is said to flow approximately once every 11 years the Nossob perhaps twice every 100 years. The Nossob River last flooded in 1963 and the Auob in 1973, 1974 and 2000. They do, however, carry rainwater in the wet season and there is moisture beneath their beds, a precious resource that is tapped to sustain life in the area. The Nossob meanders a lot. In the north the riverbed is wide with slightly raised alluvial plains and widely flanking dunes. Further downstream between the Nossob and Twee Rivieren the number of trees seem to dwindle and the course suddenly cuts through calcrete deposits turning southwestward. The banks are relatively steep, narrow and rocky. The Auob also has two discernible segments that differ in appearance and atmosphere. It is characterised by the beautiful stands of large grey camelthorn trees.

VELD FIRES

Electric storms during the summer months cause natural fires, started by lightning. These natural fires are left to burn themselves out as this is a large system that is capable of managing itself in this respect. Unnatural fires and fires that threaten human settlements or riverbeds, which create an aesthetic appeal, are controlled if logistically possible.

DUNE VEGETATION

The deceptively monotonous-looking Kalahari landscape plays host to hundreds of species of flora. From the bright-coloured annuals bursting into abundance under favourable conditions, to the stable perennials such as the gemsbok cucumber, Acanthosicyos naudinianus and camelthorn tree, Acacia erioloba, lasting outh the dry season. All form an integral part of the Kalahari ecosystem, and provide its inhabitants with nutritious food necessary for survival. In the southern Kalahari the sand deposits are arranged in a series of long, roughly parallel dunes which form a distinctive ripple effect. This is the driest area, most closely conforming to the image of a true desert. These soft sand dunes are covered with a patchy vegetation of grass, shrubs and trees. This vegetation cover enhances the stability of the dunes and offers protection against wind and rain, without which seeds would be unable to take root and flourish. A remarkably hardy grass, commonly known as "Duinriet", Stipagrostis amabilis or 'Steekriet",plays a particularly important role in stabilising the dunes. This grass sends out a long shoot underground bearing buds and shoots, which winds through the dune soil and grows into a large tough clump.Sand builds up around the clump and provides a firmer, shady environment where other plants can take root. A denser growth of vegetation occurs further down on the lower slopes and in the valleys with larger trees consisting of the camel thorn and shepherd's trees.

GATHERING OF FIREWOOD

The trees of the Kalahari are slow-growing, producing a very hard wood. When a tree or even a branch falls and dies, it becomes a new home for a wide variety of seedlings, rodents, reptiles and insects. Removing the dead wood would be robbing these organisms of the little protection they have from the natural elements.As a tree grows it draws nutrients and minerals from of the soil. When the branches die and decompose they are returned to the soil as the very nutrients and minerals that are necessary to supply the tree again. For this reason plants are able to survive well without the need of artificial fertilizer as long as this cycle is not interrupted. Therefore, please do not collect firewood in the veld.

INFO AND EXTRACTS FROM: KGALAGDI TRANSFRONTIER PARK OFFICIAL INFORMATION GUIDE. SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS

WILTIN'S REMARKS

I visited the Kalahari for the first time this year in October 2004 to view two game farms for sale. The word "Kalahari" to me as a South African meant a desert deserted wasteland with no life. I got the surprise of my life! As we arrived on the ranch at sunset and unpacked we were met by the clicking of the barking gecko. The indigo lighted skies painted with horizontal and vertical kaleidoscopes of colour resembled the remnance of the aurora borealis patterned and lit by a fiery dwindling sun. Camera in hand my wife and I were hooked. Hooked on this contrasting, barren, undulating landscape and tranquil atmosphere. It was hot that evening the helicopter blade like fan clicking all night long.
I arose the next morning at dawn with the anticipation of viewing the farm and its infrastructure. I was met with the most amazing sunrise. Dark silhouettes of camelthorn trees etched against velvet water painted eastern skies greeted me - what a photographers' dream. The gecko males were again female calling and announcing the coming of a new day. The sun broke the horizon with an intense light and it emphasized the red, brown-red oxide colours of the nearby dunes. It was breathtaking, the red dunes were contrasted by the green belt of camelthorn and acacia bushes that lined the lower edges of the dunes. This was indeed the land of the living. As we drove the Land Rover over the second dune we saw the first herd of Oryx (Gemsbok) crossing the grass covered dunes. On the top of the dune the herd bull stopped and looked back, silhouetted in the clear blue sky. As we returned for breakfast my list of ungulates included Oryx, impala, springbok in their hundreds, blue wildebeest, Blesbuck, giraffe, redhartbeest, zebra, Steenbuck and grey Duiker. Birds included numerous raptors, vultures, korhaan, plover, starlings, Kori Bustard, secretary bird and the amazing nests of the sociable weavers. Birders will be green with envy to know that a lost " Asiatic snipe " was on our birding list. Giant millipedes and leopard tortoises were abundant.
At this stage I already had more than 100 digital photos and still had another day to go. By late afternoon a thunderstorm with an accompanying rainbow dominated the sky and again colours of the spectrum in contrasts brushed the landscape. We were happy to have seen a world in thousand for the first time and we were glad to call this lovely land, part of home.

Kalahari Farms for sale

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