De Aar

De Aar, in the Northern Cape, South Africa

Accommodation | Activities | Restaurants | Business Directory

Geography and History

De Aar is a town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. De Aar is the second-most important railway junction in the country, situated on the line between Cape Town and Kimberley. Major production activities of the area include wool production and livestock farming. The area is also popular for hunting, although the region is rather arid.

De Aar was originally on the farm called De Aar which means "the artery" which refers to underground water supply. De Aar is centrally located so the government chose the location as a junction for the first railway line from Cape Town to Kimberley in 1881. The junction was of very strategic importance for the English during the Second Boer War

Activities

There are ancient Khoisan rock engravings on the Nooitgedacht and Brandfontein farms. Additionally, there is a "Garden of Remembrance", which honours the British troops killed in the Anglo-Boer War.

The town is also home to a major military ammunition dump. The DoD Ammunition Sub Depot De Aar is located about 2km west of the town.

De Aar is famous amongst Paragliding & Hang-Gliding pilots worldwide as it holds 2 World records & many countries' National Distance records.

De Aar was also the host to the XC World Series in 2008 and 2009.

During the summer months De Aar is home for several thousand Kestrels. Every evening the birds fill the sky above town and land in the big trees near the hospital just as the sun sets to spend the night.

Accommodation

Accommodation in De Aar includes Guesthouses, B&B's and Self Catering establishments

Business

Various major industries have already taken advantage of De Aar's central location and excellent rail and road links and have establish themselves here. De Aar is also a primary commercial distribution centre for a large area of the central Great Karoo. Major production activities of the area include wool production and livestock farming.