Karasburg

and lies at the heart of the southern Namibian sheep farming industry.

Location

There are three main routes that lead into Karasburg. From Grunau in the West, Onseepkans in the South and the B3 main road that leads to the South African border in the East. The town lies 710km south of Windhoek, 862km North of Cape Town and 110km West of the Ariamsvlei border post. Karasburg is the only relatively large town south of Keetmanshoop in Namibia.

Economy

Karasburg's main industry is sheep farming, but it is also an important truck stop for transport vehicles streaming into Namibia from the South African border. The town supports several massive farms in the area. The town also has its own airport [Karasburg Airport: (IATA:KAS)] which is used mainly for light aircraft or as an emergency landing strip for larger planes. Karasburg has the busiest train station in Southern Namibia and is also the last signifigant stop before Upington.

Climate

Karasburg has a extreme climate most times of the year with temperatures rising to 48 degrees celsius in the rainy season and dropping to 2 degrees in the dry season. Low rainfall is seen in this region, but the rains usually come in early January and leave as late as early April, depending on the previous season's nature. The 2008 rains have been generous when compared to previous years.

Wildlife

The Karasburg region hosts a variety of large to small game, ranging from Kudu and Springbok to Duiker, Klipspringer, Steenbok, Jackal and Caracal. The Kudu are abundant among the 'koppies' and roam free, leaping over any fence that may come in their paths. The Springbok on the other hand are bound to single camps, because they lack the suppleness and length to jump over fences. Caracals are widely hunted down by farmers, because they prey on the lambs of sheep.