We have lived in the village of Loxton for 20 years, although interspersed with long absences, and during that time have noted the increase in grass cover on many of the farms. No doubt this can be ascribed to a combination of factors, including changes in rainfall regime, climate change, farming practices and better controls over stock numbers. There are probably other factors at play that we are not aware of.  Our observations are of a subjective nature as we have not had the time to delve ...

Part of the scenery of the Karoo is that scaffold-pyramid with its turning wheel drawing water up from underground aquifers. What would this semi-arid landscape be without these man-made “temples” to survival?  In recent years, and increasingly, Karoo farmers are moving to the use of solar panels and pumps, with the water being stored in non-leaking plastic tanks. On the positive side this saves water, reduces costs for the farmer in the long run, as it saves on labour and maintenance exp...

Yesterday, for the first time, we saw two “golden” wildebeest in the flesh, free-ranging with a herd of normally coloured Blue Wildebeest, on a game farm close to our Karoo home. Although we still are against the commercial breeding of these colour morphs we have to admit, for the first time, that if, then the “golden” wildebeest does get a few plus points.  Unlike the white Springbok and Blesbok they look robust and yes, they are handsome. But we still wonder when the insane prices b...