About Olifantshoek
Olifantshoek is named after the tusk of an elephant which was used as payment for the farm on which the town was built.
Olifantshoek is situated to the east and at the foot of the Langberg mountain, and southeast of the Korannaberg Mountains. The town is mainly a farming and mining community and there are several game hunting farms in the area.
Situated 165km north east of Upington and 90km south west of Kuruman on the main road between Gauteng and Namibia in an area called the Green Kalahari. Postmasburg is approximately 65km to the south of Olifantshoek on the R385. Situated between Kuruman and Olifantshoek just off the N14 is the town of Kathu and the Kumba Iron Ore Mine (Sishen) the largest open groove mine in the Southern hemisphere.
History
The San (Bushman) people are the earliest known humans to inhabit the area. Later, this became the land of the Tswana people where tribes like the Thlaping and the Thlaro used to dwell.
In 1885 the British annexed the area as part of British Betsjoeanaland and a hundred years of Tswana reign came to an end. In 1895 British Betsjoeanaland became part of the Cape Colony.
The Thlaping people, under the leadership of Chief Luka Jantje rebelled against the British, but Luka Jantje paid with his life in 1896. After the surrender the land was confiscated.
The first brick buildings in Olifantshoek were built in 1906, the office of the magistrate and a police cell. In 1909 the first house was built by the Cape Mounted Police, sgt. Hubert Warren.
Due to the semi-desert conditions, early police were forced to use camels for transport. The camels were obtained from a breeding station at Witdraai in the Kalahari. This practice came to an end in 1946.
Olifantshoek was founded in 1912. In the year 2000 Olifantshoek formed part of the Tsantsebane Municipality in Postmasburg. Since 2006 to date the town forms part of the Gamagara Municipality with its head office in Kathu.
Attractions
Roaring Sands
The White and Roaring Sands are 70km southwest of town. Red sand is blown here into dunes from the Kalahari which is bleached by the water removing the iron oxide. During dry weather the resulting smooth sand vibrate to make a roaring sound. Lightning often creates fulgurites when it strikes the sand. These are tube like glazed bits of sand fused by the heat in sections as long as 2m.
Vegetation includes Karroid Kalahari Bushveld, Orange River Nama Karoo and Kalahari Mountain Bushveld.
The entire reserve is open to hiking or drives by vehicle to different points for further exploration. The reserve also includes a Botanical Meander along which the plants are marked, a sunken bird hide which overlooks a waterhole approximately 5m away, enabling eye level viewing and photographing of birds (over 170 recorded bird species) and game visiting the water hole. There also picnic sites and a much welcomed swimming pool in the heat of summer .
4x4 Route
The Kalahari Mountain View 4x4 Dune Route. Contact us for more information.
Hiking, Game Drives and Hunting
These are available on nearby farms on request.
