Vegetation consists of succulent plants, such as the kokerboom or half-mens, that store water in the thick leaves to tide them over till the next rains.

Situated in the heart of merino sheep country Colesberg has produced many of the country's top merinos and race horses, including one owned by legendary golfer, Gary Player.

It is an oasis for travellers en route from Cape Town to Johannesburg or vice versa via the N1.

Colesberg is surrounded by typical Karoo veld and koppies, the most famous of which is Coleskop which can be seen from 40km away.

The curious thing is that as you travel towards it, it never seems to get any closer. Early travellers called it "Towerberg", Magic Mountain.

In the early 1800's, Hanover was part of the Graaff Reinet region, known as Zeekoerivier "upper hippo river". Gert Gous sold his farm to the church and Hanover was established.

Britstown is named after Hans Brits who, having accompanied David Livingstone on his travels into the interior, decided to settle on this farm Gemsbokfontein, where the town stands today.

De Aar, meaning "the vein" was established as a railway station between the Cape and Kimberley.

It is now the second most important junction in South Africa, where lines from the Western and Eastern Capes, the northern provinces, Namibia and Zimbabwe all meet.

Once a haven for steam train enthusiasts, the electrification of the railway lines has quietened these lines.