Kuruman is small town of around 70 000 inhabitants in the very north of South Africa, in the heart of the Cape Kalahari thirstland – a town that would not exist if it weren’t for one of the most powerful and extraordinary springs on earth. In the middle of the Kalahari ‘desert’ the Eye of Kuruman pumps 20 – 30 million litres of fresh crystal clear water a day out of the surrounding dolomite, and gives life to this small mining and agricultural town and its immediate surroundings. The lush green of Kuruman has earned it the title of Oasis of the Kalahari.
If you are travelling west from Johannesburg or through the Free State, Kuruman will be your last stop before the Kglagadi Transfrontier Park, but it is well worth a trip from Upington in the other direction, and a stay of a day or two to explore local attractions besides the Eye. These include Wonderwerk Cave, the Mount Carmel Farm where you can do various outdoors activities and see Boesmansgat – the 3rd deepest underwater cave in the world (very experienced cave divers only may dive there, but its a beautiful walk and you can swim in the entrance), the Kuruman bird sanctuary and the small Billy Duvenhage Nature Reserve on the Hotazel (read Hot as Hell) Rd that goes north out of Kuruman to the mining town of Hotazel, and the Kalahari Raptor Rehabilitation Centre. The Robert Moffat Mission and Museum is an interesting historical attraction, and the famous luxury Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve is situated close by.
Getting there: From Kimberley take the R31 north-north west. From Upington, take the N14 east.
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