Vanderkloof Dam

July 1971 saw the first construction teams arrive at a spot on the Orange River, 130 kilometres downstream of the Gariep Dam. Their objective? To build the second biggest dam in South Africa containing 3,200,000,000 cubic metres of water, the P.K. le Roux Dam. In September 1977 the dam was completed and became known as the Vandekloof Dam after the farm on which it was built. During construction of the town houses were built for the construction workers and the beautiful town of Vanderkloof was born. Today the town is a vibrant holiday destination popular with both locals and travellers alike. The dam attracts tourists because it is perfect for angling and water related sports including sailing, skiing and windsurfing. The Dam is rich in numerous fish species, such as the small-mouth and large-mouth yellow fish, catfish and carp. The Pied Barbet Hiking trail is a two-hour walk (4km) in the Rolfontein Nature Reserve and should definitely be visited to fully appreciate this beautiful part of South Africa. The town hosts a number of annual events, some of which include, the Water Festival, Biker Rally, and Intervarsity Regatta.

Climate
Vanderkloof normally receives about 225mm of rain per year, with most its rainfall occuring during the autumn months of February, March, and April. The average midday temperatures for Vanderkloof range from 16.6 degrees Celsius in June to 31.2 degrees Celsius in January. The region is the coldest during July when the mercury drops to 1 degree Celsius on average during the night.
Tourism Attractions in Vanderkloof Dam