the hardeveld

The Hardeveld region consists of the villages of Bitterfontein, Kliprand, Molsvlei, Nuwerus, Putsekloof, Rietpoort and Stofkraal.

The Hardeveld lies between the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the Bokkeveld plateau in the east. The railway line ends at Bitterfontein, the largest town of the region, with the only green granite in the world transported from here. The villages are small and many have their origins as mission stations or stockposts and still reflect this quaint character. Short walks in the Knersvlakte will display unique miniature succulents.

The Hardeveld Route is an emerging tourism destination, aiming at bringing the benefits of tourism to the rural villages in the area. Traditional dances are performed by learners from the local schools, dressed in traditional costume. Music is performed on handmade tin violins and guitars, delicious traditional food is readily available and storytelling by the local masters can be arranged. Those with an intimate knowledge of the veld and the uses of its many medicinal plants will be happy to take you for a walk and explain the uses and qualities of these plants. A day out with a herder and his goats, sharing his restful activities, can be arranged. The making of the traditional bonnets for women, baking tins and riempies chairs as well as the more modern art of textile painting can be viewed and experienced.

The Hardeveld has distinctive round and rocky granite hills separated by sandy plains and many of these rocky hills have conspicuous large and flat, sometimes rounded exposed rock surfaces.
The climate in Namaqualand varies as much between the different regions as the geological conditions do. In general, Namaqualand can be described as a winter-rainfall desert for which highly predictable annual
rainfall and a moderate temperature throughout the year are distinctive

One special quality of these circumstances is that droughts are very rare. Every year a relatively constant amount of rain falls, mainly during the winter months (June to August). The temperatures are normally mild with a maximum of 48°C  Daytime temperatures can vary from a minimum of below 10°C to a moderate 25°C with summer temperatures between 30 and 40°C.
In sum, all these special climate features contribute to one of the most unusual plant communities in the world - the Succulent
Karoo.