Oviston Nature Reserve

The primary purpose of the Oviston Nature Reserve is the conservation of the communities broadly representative of the Nama Karroo ecotype, and the conservation of the natural processes which are responsible for the resilience of the Karroo. Oviston Nature Reserve offers three lodgings, namely Komweer Lodge, an erstwhile farmhouse sleeping 12 people, Apies Bay Cabin and Ihodi Picnic and Camp Site . Game drives in Oviston Nature Reserve are amply rewarded by sights of large numbers of Springbuck, Ostriches, Gemsbuck, Zebras and Hartebeest. Location of Oviston Nature Reserve Oviston Nature Reserve is situated in the north eastern part of the Eastern Cape Province along the southern shoreline of the mighty Gariep Dam (formerly known as the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam). It covers an area of approximately 16,000 hectare and stretches from the dam wall on the west, to the Bethulie railroad bridge in the east. Oviston and Venterstad are both situated 7km from the reserve entrance. About Lake Gariep Lake Gariep, which spans the borders of the Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape Provinces, lies approximately two hours south of Bloemfontein. The dam is more than 100km long and 15km wide with a surface area of about 360km and a storage capacity of 5,673,8 million cubic meters. The dam wall is 914m long and 88m high. The Town of Oviston Oviston is a small town overlooking Lake Gariep on the Eastern Cape side. It was originally built to house the workers who built the dam which was completed in 1971.