Chas Everitt - Property in North West South Africa

THE PROVINCE AT A GLANCE

The North West is all about the authentic African bush experience and it is the hot, dry African climate which is truly unique. Small wonder, then, that so many indulge in the many water recreation facilities available throughout the province. Even less surprising that so many choose to stay in this place of uncompromisingly tempered, often intemperate climate.

The summer months (August to March) bring brief, refreshing afternoon thunderstorms. The sky is often a mardi gras of electrical energy, a bruised sky opened up by flashes of brilliance. Summer temperatures range between 22°C & 34°C (71.6°F & 93.2°F)
Winter brings with it dry, sunny days and chilly nights. The average winter (May to July) temperature is 15.5°C (60°F) but can range from an average of 2°C (35.6°F) to 20°C (68°F) in a single day.
Effectively forming the southern part of the Kalahari Desert, the North West Province offers almost all year-round sunshine. Do not forget your suntan lotion and sun hat. Few days will be spent indoors staring at bleak weather!
The North West Province is a must see destination - one that is diverse and exciting. We offer some of the finest game reserves, cultural sights, archaeological treasures as well as entertainment resorts.
The agricultural and mining production in the North West plays a vital role in boosting the South African economy. The principal products are namely gold, platinum, diamonds, maize, beef and sunflower seeds.
While visiting the North West, the traditional warmth of the province will be shared with you as well as the pride in the history and culture of the province.

Wartime
It was in the North West Province, in 1838, where General Potgieter settled after he defeated the armies of Mzilikazi at Kapain and Mosega. He was assisted in this effort by the Griqua and the Barolong, a terrorised tribe.
Some of ancestors of these people still live in North West. Potgieter later left the area but not before founding the oldest town, north of the Vaal River, in South Africa, namely Potchefstroom.

THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTH WEST

The arrestingly diverse landscape of the North West is occupied by charming people whose responsibility to the land parallels their strong sense of tradition.
The culture of the people of the North West is to be found in every aspect of the daily lives of the people. - In their beadwork, the pottery, the houses, the music and song.
The people of the North West are predominantly BaTswana in origin and their language is SeTswana. They can trace their origins for many centuries through a turbulent history of war and migration across the plains and valleys of the province to the borders of the Kalahari.
Other groups touching the North West are the Ndebele in the east and the Sotho in the south.
The North West Province is blessed with several cultural villages that entertain and enrich as they interpret South Africa's people in their own unique manner.

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

Most of the Province (71%) falls within the Savannah Biome with its associated Bushveld vegetation. The remainder falls within the Grassland Biome, which contains a wide variety of grasses typical of arid areas.
The vegetation of the arid and semi-arid western region largely comprises Kalahari thornveld and shrub bushveld, while the central region is dominated by dry cymbopogon-themeda veld and the eastern region is characterised by a number of mixed bushveld types.
The North West Province has wide array of species, ecosystem and habitats. This is largely due to the diverse nature of the Province's landscapes and variation in climate.
The Province has several endemic species (such as the Aloe peglerae in the Magaliesberg), as well as rare and threatened species (e.g. wild dog). The indigenous fauna and flora inhabiting the numerous dolomitic eyes (particularly the aquatic invertebrates and fish) are also considered to be unique.
The numerous non-perennial pans occurring in the Province provide important breeding and feeding habitat for waterfowl, amphibians and invertebrates which are adapted to the seasonal nature of these waterbodies.
The Province has a total of 14 national parks and provincial reserves within its borders. The most well known are the Pilanesberg and Madikwe National Parks, which are administered by the North West Parks and Tourism Board. The Province also shares the Magaliesberg Protected Natural Environment with Gauteng.
There are 10 registered conservancies and several game farms or ranches in the Province. Of the total area of about 160 000ha of land committed to game farming, about 6% can be classified as true game farms. The remainder comprises game camps (fenced off portions of farms) that vary in size. The species being conserved on these farms are predominantly antelope such as kudu, duiker and steenbok. Other animals such as sable, Cape buffalo, gemsbok, eland, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest and even black rhinoceros also occur in the Province. The North West Province has some of the largest traders of wildlife in South Africa, who trade both nationally and internationally, bringing much-valued foreign exchange to the Province.
Several exotic species such as parrots and ornamental fish imported from elsewhere in the world are important for the well-established pet trade in the Province.
Fishing and fishery resources in the North West Province largely occur in the Province's impoundments. Fishing in these dams is mostly by recreational and sport fishermen. The main species being targeted for recreational angling are barbel, bass, carp, kurper, mudfish and yellowfish.
The surface waters in the Province are in the form of rivers, dams, pans, wetlands and dolomitic eyes fed by aquifers.The main rivers are the Crocodile, Groot Marico, Hex, Elands, Vaal, Mooi, Harts and Molopo rivers.
The Province has over 40 wetlands and one RAMSAR site, Barberspan, which is recognised as a wetland of international importance.

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