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Aliwal North Information Guide

Sleeping on the banks of the Orange River, Aliwal North is a town in the Eastern Cape Province. Aliwal North is the seat of the Maletswai Local Municipality which falls within the Ukhahlamba District Municipality. Aliwal North are mostly known for its two hot mineral springs, both of which have extremely high concentrations of minerals and gases. Aliwal North is named in tribute to Sir Harry Smith. Sir Harry Smith, then Governor of the Cape Colony, formally founded the small town of Aliwal North in the Cape Province of South Africa in 1850. He named the town Aliwal North in memory of his victory over the Sikhs at the Battle of Aliwal during the First Sikh War in India in 1846. The park in the centre of Aliwal North, the Juana Square Gardens was named after Smith's wife Juana Maria de Los Dolores de Leon.

Aliwal North is town popular for its mineral springs, said to have curative qualities. People are flocking in their hordes to the holiday resorts which offers both indoor and outdoor heated pools, fed by the two thermal springs which surface from the Gariep River at 34C. The high concentration of minerals and gases in the spring water help to alleviate ailments such as rheumatism and arthritis.
Visitors to Aliwal North may wish to discover the ancient San rock art work in caves of the surrounding area. The nearby Buffelspruit Nature Reserve is home to hundreds of antelope and buffalo. Zebras and oryx have also been re-introduced to the park.
Aliwal also have a fairly lot to do and see. One the must do`s, of course is visiting The Oviston Nature reserve which lies close to the little Karoo towns of Venterstad and Oviston and is also a roughly two hours’ drive from Bloemfontein. That it is in the Karoo should impart the potential for blinding hot summer days, but along with this slight discomfort come crisp, cool evenings, extraordinary sunsets (apparently due to the high level of dust), and a beautiful landscape of wide open grasslands, little ‘koppies’ and a sky that goes on forever.

Most surprising is the dead calm and essential quiet of Oviston. Generally its visitors are nominal, and if you head there during the week it is easy to feel a sense of incredible peace and a sentiment of getting away from it all.

Lying on the southern side of the Gariep Dam, the Oviston Nature Reserve is a 16 000 hectare reserve home to a fair amount of plains game in the form of ostriches, springbuck, zebras, oryx and hartebeest. It is one of three nature reserves that border on the Gariep Dam, also known as Lake Gariep, the others are Tussen-die-Riviere (between the rivers) Nature Reserve, reserved for hunters in autumn and winter as it is supposed to support a sizeable amount of game, and the Gariep Nature Reserve.

The area is obviously popular for water sports, given the size of the Gariep Dam (it is over 100 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide), but in Oviston you can also view game from your car, go on walking trails (there is an overnight hike), bird watch and fish. Oviston Nature Reserve was initially established to preserve False Upper Karoo vegetation and to support a breeding programme for herds of buck, principally for relocation to other sanctuaries.
For those who just cant live without their daily dose of experiencing the wildlife there is The JAK Strydom Nature Reserve which is situated ten kilometers downstream from Aliwal North on the banks of the Orange River. This malaria-free private Game Reserve offers 1000 hectares of indigenous beauty.

Enjoy picnicking at one of the tranquil riverside picnic spots with a lapa and braai facilities. Take a game drive and view our 21 species, including rare wildlife such as buffalo, rhino, giraffe, bontebok, tsessebe, njalas, gemsbuck, waterbuck, eland, zebra, kudu etc. The reserve also has an abundance of bird life. Take a scenic walk to the ancient rock art or enjoy fishing for the elusive Yellow fish. End your day with a relaxing soak in the nearby hot water sulphur spring (34 degrees).