LIVESTOCK FARM ON THE PLAINS OF CAMDEBOO

This historical and well-known 6,000 hectare property was previously owned by the Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate of the District of Graaff-Reinet, Willem Cornelius van Ryneveld, and consists of sought-after apron-veld with deep soil, and easily manageable open Karoo plains ideal for Angora goats, Merino sheep, and cattle. The property has over 10 km of valuable river-veld adjoining the Sunday’s River and 31 ha of established irrigation. Although easily accessible from town the farm has no public thoroughfares and only 5.8 km of the farm adjoins a public road.

LOCATION: ± 9 km south of Graaff-Reinet

SIZE: ± 5,998.2591 ha

CARRYING CAPACITY: ± 16-20 ha/LSU on the veld - Govt. Assessment 2018 & ± 0.25 – 0.5 ha/LSU on the lands (Total: ± 368 – 430 LSU’s).

ANNUAL RAINFALL: ± 335 mm

TOPOGRAPHY & GEOLOGY: Just within the north-western boundary of the farm are a few dolerite-strewn ridges, foothills of the Camdeboo range, with the dominant Wolwekop the highest point at 799 m ASL. The non-perennial Sunday’s River meanders from north to south-west through the property. Deep alluvial soils are to be found both on the apron veld below the foothills at elevations between 660 and 700 m ASL, and on the floodplains adjoining the Sunday’s River, especially at its confluence with the westward flowing Kruidfonteinspruit in the north-east. A portion of the apron-veld around Wolwekop has been subjected to some sheet erosion. South of the river at elevations between 640 and 720 m ASL there are shallower soils on open undulating plains with a few low shale ridges, and a leegte formed by the Swartrivier which flows from the eastern boundary to its confluence with the Sunday’s River in the west. The geological pediment is covered with clay, silt, and sands of sedimentary origin, and mudstone, shales, and sandstone with characteristic superficial calcrete in the south-east.

VEGETATION:

• North-Western Apron Veld – sweet productive lambing veld and deep soil with succulent and dwarf shrubs interspersed with larger shrubs and trees. Common species include Wolwedoring, Wild Pomegranate (Rhigozum obovatum), Kuni, Shepherds Tree, Spikethorn (Maytenus heterophylla), Cross Berry (Grewia occidentalis), Karoo Num-num (Carrisa haematocarpa), Jacket Plum (Pappea capensis), Sweet Thorn (Vachellia karoo), with Bitter Aloe (Aloe ferox) and Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) dominant on the slopes and plateau of Wolwekop. A good variety of palatable grasses are to be found. Species include Klipgras (Aristida diffusa), Heteropogon contortus, Kweek (Cynodon dactylon), and Red grass (Themeda triandra).

• Southern Open Karoo Plains – typical of the Lower Karoo Biome and dominated by succulent and dwarf Karoo shrubs including Anchor Karoo Bush (Pentzia Incana), legumes, and larger
shrubs like Cross-Berry (Grewia occidentalis) and Wild Pomegranate (Rhigozum obovatum), and interspersed with Steekgras (Aristida congesta), and palatable grasses with some Buffalo
Grass (Panicum maximum) and Blue Buffalo Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) in the leegtes. The unusual and CITES protected Euphorbia obesa succulent; a rare endemic of the Great Karoo is to be found on the shale ridges of the southern open plains.

• River-veld – typical river-veld alongside the Sunday’s Rivers with Sweet Thorn Trees (Vachellia karroo) dominant. Other flora includes Karee (Searsia lancea), dwarf and succulents shrubs, and Bur Bristle Grass (Setaria verticillata), Blue Buffalo Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum), and Quick Grass (Cynodon dactylon) under the taller shrubs and trees and in the river bed.

FARM INFRASTRUCTURE: The farm is divided into ± 20 camps and the fencing is in a reasonable state of repair with some fences recently completely replaced or repaired. The property has 5 sets of stock handling facilities and a feedlot for ± 1,000 sheep.

WATER SUPPLY: The farm has ± 21 boreholes of which 6 are fitted with windmills, 4 with solar, and 5 with municipal electricity for the irrigation. In addition ± 13 small earth dams, 2 fountains, and the Sunday’s River provides additional water sources in season.

IRRIGATION: Near to the homestead is a Valley® 27 ha centre pivot and 4 ha of permaset irrigation all under lucerne. The farm is entitled to pump 494,000 m3 of borehole water per annum and store 15,000 m3 of river water in an earth dam for irrigation purposes. Water is pumped from 5 boreholes to two large cement reservoirs from the water is pumped to the pivot and permaset irrigation. The potential exists to rejuvenate a portion of the extensive (± 170 ha) of dry lands on the Wolwekop section of the farm which were developed and formerly irrigated with canal water from the Van Ryneveld’s Pass Dam. The borehole situated on the Wolwekop lands has been tested at 20,000 litres per hour. Below the Sunday’s River and Kruidfonteinspruit confluence there is also another ± 50 hectares of old lands that were irrigated from a weir on the river.

HOMESTEAD: The attractive circa 1830 historical homestead of ± 425 m2 is of plastered brick construction with a pitched corrugated iron roof, dormer vents, and veranda, and is set in an established garden with mature trees, double car-port and a swimming pool. The homestead has large sash windows and louvered shutters and contains a lounge, dining room, two living rooms, four bedrooms, kitchen, and two bathrooms. Internal features include characteristic Victorian details and fittings, fireplace, and Yellowwood and Oregon pine floors and ceilings. An old cottage of ± 100 m2 is also of plastered brick and corrugated iron construction is in the process of being developed into a 380 m2 residence.

OUTBUILDINGS: A ± 940 m2 shed comprised of a fodder area, a brick plastered shed area, and a vehicle lean-to. The shearing shed of ± 390 m2 is of plastered brick construction with a pitched corrugated iron roof and has an attached lean-to. An enclosed ± 138 m2 self-feeder is of IBR and steel construction. A number of storerooms totalling ± 138 m2 in size and are of plastered brick construction with pitched corrugated iron roofs. There are ± 3 staff cottages on the property.

On the Wolwekop portion of the property there is a small shed and two staff cottages but all in need of extensive repair and renovation.

POWER: Municipal electricity

LIVESTOCK & GAME: Currently farmed with Merino Dorper sheep, Angora goats, and cattle. Naturally occurring game include Kudu, a few Springbok, Steenbok, and Duiker etc.