The vast expanse of water which is the Sterkfontein Dam lies a few kilometers from the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment in the topmost reaches of the Vaal Dam catchment on the Nuwejaarspruit. The cool, fresh, deep waters are ideal for trout and other fish and it is a popular angling spot. It is the third largest dam in South Africa providing a perfect playground for sailing and other water-sports. The surrounding landscape is scenically stunning - characterized by rugged Mountains, lush ravines and rolling Grasslands. In this beautiful setting is the Sterkfontein Dam Reserve covering 18 000 hectares. Perfect for long walks, hiking (there is a two-day hiking trail) and biking, it also offers excellent game viewing and bird watching. You can tick off Oribi, Reedbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Grey Reedbuck, the blue and White bellied Korhaan, the bald ibis, the Buff-streaked chat, the ground woodpecker, and the sentinel. Gaze up to the sky and you could spot Cape and bearded vultures, as well as black and martial eagles soaring. Secretary birds can also be spotted in treetops or stalking in the grasslands. The precipitous Ravines are populated with yellowwood, Koko, Wild Peach, silky bark, and black bark trees as well as bush Guarri. Wild grapes have grown up into the tops of the trees forming a dense canopy of leaves. Fungi and lichen sit against rotten and living tree trunks alike. The mountain slopes are adorned with wild myrtle, silver Sugar-bush Ouhout, Highveld Protea, Redwood, Hush Guarri, and the Tree Fern.

Bethlehem is located on the N5 road to the Free State provincial capital Bloemfontein via Senekal and Winburg to the N1. Other regional roads in the Town are R76 road to Kroonstad (North), the R26 road to Reitz and Fouriesburg (North East and South) respectively. The R712 runs through to Clarens just 41 km’s away on route to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. It falls under the Dihlabeng Municipality. Bethlehem was founded by three local residents, Kristiaan Klopper, Neil Bishop and Henco Cronjé, who jointly bought the Farm: 'Pretorius Kloof'. The first stands were sold in 1860 and a Justice of Peace was appointed, in 1864 Bethlehem is 250 km North-East of Bloemfontein and 260 km South of Johannesburg, established in 1860 on the farm Pretorius Kloof and proclaimed in 1884. Named after the biblical Bethlehem (Judg. 17:7), the birthplace of Jesus. ‘House of bread’, so called because wheat was found to thrive there! Jordaan River rising in the Rooiberg North-East of Clarens and flowing north through Bethlehem. The reference is; to the River Jordan which flows into the Sea of Galilee. Asrivier River some 8 km South-East of Bethlehem, flows into Loch Lomond. Afrikaans for ‘axle river’, the name was given because the axle of a wagon broke at a ford here during the Great Trek, causing some delay. Bethlehem was the temporary seat of the Government of the Orange Free State in 1900, during the South African War. The Town has railway Workshops, Cold-Storage Plants, flour mills, a dairying and malting industry, furniture-manufacturing plants, and textile mills. It is a centre for the distribution of agricultural produce and has major Rail, Air, and Road Links. The Pretorius Valley Bird Sanctuary has been created where the Jordaan River passes through Pretorius Valley, and Lake Athlone is a recreation area. Population according to the Census of (2001) is 11,819. The casino is located in the historical town of Bethlehem and is the gateway to some of South Africa’s most beautiful scenery and important landmarks, including the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the Basotho Cultural Village. Nearby outdoor entertainment options include river rafting, wildlife gazing, hiking, fishing, biking and quad biking. Located in Bethlehem is also the 'Frontier Inn and Casino'. This is a charming, Boutique Casino Resort perfectly situated en-route to Clarens. Comfortable accommodation, lively entertainment, and service with a smile, characterize this frontier – themed establishment with its magnificent finishes. As the only legal casino in Bethlehem we offer gaming entertainment to excite with regular promotions and weekly game shows. Live the spirit of Adventure! The Bethlehem Museum is one of Cultural History and is housed in the old Nazareth Mission Church on Muller Street. The church was originally built in 1906 so is architecturally and aesthetically pleasing. The museum is only open at selected times. You will find a number of historical items at the Museum one of which is an old steam Train which is housed on the grounds, I’m sure your children will be fascinated learning more about this method of travel that perhaps their great grandparents traveled by. The Museum has a strong focus of the Town’s History and Culture so you will notice a fair number of farming implements and period furniture that depict the lifestyle of former residents of the Town. If you’re interested in war, you’ll be pleased to know that there is a very good collection of war memorabilia at the Bethlehem Museum. Groenkop Battle –site A Memorial Monument has been erected on the top of Groenkop Situated between Bethlehem and Kestell (40 km from Bethlehem), remembering those who died during the Battle on 25 December 1901. Major Williams with 550 men, most of them from the 11th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, a 15-pounder gun and a pom-pom were positioned at the top of the 61 m high Groenkop. Lionsrock – Big Cat Sanctuary. A lifelong home for big cats. As part of four paws’ work for wild animals in captivity, we focus on the situation of big cats in zoos, in private captivity and in the entertainment industry. The Area was was taken over by 'Four Paws', in 2006. During the early days at the newly acquired Big Cat Sanctuary, huge demands were placed on the local team. Massive structural changes had to be made to the area to bring up to four paws´ rigorous quality standards. Tepelkop Hiking Trail, is moderately difficult and is suitable for children aged twelve and older. This 10 Kilometer Hike just outside of the Town, begins at a converted sandstone Barn which is used as a Base Camp, for Hikers. Warm up with a good walk on the first stretch before you begin your short but steep climb to the saddle between the Witteberg and Tepelkop Mountains. Along the way you will spot an outstanding array of Flora and Fauna. Sporekrans Hiking Trail A two day Sporekrans Trail in the Bergdeel Private Game Reserve. The Reserve has: a camp with beds, an ablution block and braai spots so you can stay over comfortably, the night before the trail starts. Then there is also the Holhoek Hiking Trail which is over the terrain of sandstone koppies, so prevalent in this area, of the Witteberg. (Which was said to be all that remains of what was once a desert.) The beauty of the Area is paramount – naked rocks of various interesting formations, trees of all shapes and sizes, Mountain Streams, Kloofs, a series of Caves (some endowed with San rock paintings), Valleys, various Ladders and Bridges up and along the Mountain face and a pleasingly designed Route combine to make a particularly enjoyable Hike!

Almost indistinguishable from Velddrif, Laaiplek lies on the west side of of the Town closest to the sea, its name derived from its function : 'A place where one can offload the catch of the day on the pier.' The heart of Laaiplek lies on the Berg River, its pier a hive of activity, particularly last thing in the afternoon as fishing boats sail alongside, and proceed to throw out their catch of the day where it is weighed and then picked up by whatever market has bought today's catch. Some of the fish goes to local fish shops, but it depends more on who the highest bidder is, than proximity! The quayside is a colourful collection of fishing vessels, most of them old-fashioned, brightly painted wooden boats, with names like: "Doloreze, Roseveld and Excalibur". Laaiplek's Harbour was the site of the first Fishing Factory and today there is still evidence of Fish Canning and Fish Industry. Most of the fish caught here are Sardines or Haarders, which are then salted and hung out to dry - ride down Bokkoms Laan in Velddrif to see evidence of the Fish Biltong hung on racks. Laaiplek has grown into more than just a Harbour. Whilst Velddrif used to be 2 Kilometers up the road, the two have merged and Laaiplek's Grocery Store, feels as though it is part of Velddrif, as do the little Restaurants that have sprung up around Laaiplek's Hotel. But the Fishing Community is as colorful as it was in the past, and if you want to get a feel for the way of life here, stroll along the Quayside in the last afternoon, and join the Seagulls and the People who come to get a taste of the action!

Kropz acquired the Elandsfontein property in August 2010 and has since invested some US$120 million on exploration, bulk sampling, feasibility studies and the subsequent construction of a mine, mineral processing facility and associated infrastructure. Elandsfontein is a robust and substantially de-risked mining project. The box cut has been established and the highly automated processing facility, with the capacity to deliver in excess of 1 Mt-pa of >31% Phosphate rock concentrate, is near completion. Final commissioning is dependent on further test work and design modifications. Kropz’s operating cost estimates suggest that Elandsfontein is well-positioned to compete effectively with other phosphate rock suppliers in the traded market. Also, its close proximity to the deep-water port of Saldanha Bay enables it to target demand in both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean markets. In terms of competitiveness, Elandsfontein should enjoy particularly advantageous freight rates to Brazil, and it should also maintain a freight advantage over North African-based suppliers in the important Indian market. The Council for Geo-science, formerly the Geological Survey of South Africa, regards the Elandsfontein deposit as the largest sedimentary deposit in South Africa. The West Coast region has a History of Phosphate Mining. Development of the Elandsfontein Project has allowed Kropz to achieve strong, long-term partnerships, in particular with Elandsfontein’s Black Economic Empowerment partner and one of its significant shareholders, the ARC Fund, a leading South African-based investment company.

Our farm, Elandsfontein, is about 18 km (25 min drive) from Pretoria, about 25 km (45 min drive) from Johannesburg; and about 25 min drive from Jan Smuts International Airport. We Farm with peaches and cattle. Here you would be able to get a taste of authentic South African country living. During the day you can go for walks on the farm, jog, or just linger in the shade of the large trees in our yard. This charming cottage on a working farm can sleep 6 members of a family in 3 separate bedrooms. It includes the following: Lounge with flat screen television and DSTV; fully equipped kitchen with stove, fridge and microwave; shower, as well as en-suite bath in main bedroom; kettle braai in private court yard. Or if you would prefer there is a charming cottage sleeping 2 people on working farm, nestled among large trees, with a view of maize fields and peach orchards. It includes the following: Bedroom with queen size bed, lounge with flat screen television and DSTV; fully equipped kitchen with stove, fridge and microwave; separate bathroom; kettle braai in private court yard. WiFi via satellite available, however note that we have capped service. Rietvlei Nature Reserve located next to our farm accommodates several grazers such as zebra, various antelope such as Eland, Hartebeest, Springbok, Blesbuck and black wildebeest, buffalo and the white rhinoceros, cheetah as well as a lion camp. Since it is relatively small one can do a half day trip and see quite a lot of animals. Groenkloof Nature Reserve is about 25 km drive from us. Here one can go hiking, and within an hour walk among the game (antelope and giraffes). The game is tame and therefore one can come relatively close. Explore the cities of Pretoria (Voortrekker Museum, Paul Kruger House, Smuts House, Sammy Marks Museum, Freedom Park, De Wild Cheetah Centre, Botanical Gardens) and Johannesburg (Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, Maboneng Precinct, Soweto, Gold Reef City, and world-class shopping) from here. Our farm is within easy reach (30-45 min drive) of both Pretoria and Johannesburg. The Cradle of Humankind, Hartbeespoortdam and the small diamond village of Cullinan are also within an hour’s drive. Both Woodlands Mall and Irene Village Mall are 15-20 min drive away, with restaurants and all the shops you may need.

The Town was established in 1875, initially as a Dutch Reformed Church congregation to serve the surrounding Communities because the closest Church, was in Hopefield. The Town's original name was "Twisfontein", which from Afrikaans can be translated as "dispute fountain". This name came about when two competing Farmers fought over the only available freshwater Spring, in the Area. The Town was renamed as they were discussing the matter of the Freshwater Spring and were trying to come to an agreement. When this agreement was settled and they have achieved a sense of peace among one another, the name "Vredenburg" was chosen, as "Vrede"in Afrikaans means: "Peace". The Town's Population in 2011 was 38,382. It is the Transportation and Commercial hub of the West Coast area and Administrative centre of the Saldanha Bay Local Municipality. It is located 12 Kilometers, inland from the Coast at Saldanha Bay on the Cape Columbine Peninsula, about 138 km North of Cape Town.

Zoute River Cottage, is a West Coast, Country retreat for writers, artists and dreamers. The studio Cottage is the perfect location for a creative escape, whether you’re a freelancer: Painter; Photographer; Lecturer in the City; or simply a couple who’d like to get away for a few Days. The Cottage has a desk and an easel can be provided upon prior arrangement. There’s also a small private garden under the Mimosa trees, with outdoor tables, chairs and braai facilities. The living Area is tastefully furnished for a restful experience. Fresh linen and blankets are provided for the double bed. Towels are also provided. The Kitchenette has a Salton oven, fridge, microwave, kettle and toaster, and all the necessary cutlery and crockery. The Airport is about 105 km (Cape Town International Airport). "I can only imagine what Master Pieces have been created here!"

The Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve is situated in the coastal zone, North of Cape Town. Located in the Cape Floristic Kingdom, this Biosphere Reserve is known for its mosaic of diverse ecosystems and Habitats which include Marine, Beach and frontal dune Environments, Pans, Wetlands and rocky Outcrops. Many plant communities have adapted to the harsh environmental conditions (e.g. Elytropappus Rhinocerotis shrub lands, sand plain Fynbos with Phylica Cephalantha or dune thicket with Euclea Racemosa). The Langebaan Lagoon, is one of the core areas, is also designated as a Ramsar Wetland, as it is important for many Waterfowl. About 800,000 people live in the Biosphere Reserve and there are also up to 300,000 non-permanent Residents, who stay only for holidays and weekends (2010). Agriculture and Fisheries currently provide the largest proportion of Employment with: Fish Processing; Industrial Manufacturing and the Service Sector, are also sources of income. Management issues for the Biosphere Reserve concern mainly Mining Activities in the Area, intensive Agriculture, the invasion of alien species, uncontrolled Fires, uncontrolled off-road Vehicles and the over-utilization of the aquifers. Significant efforts have been made in the Biosphere Reserve to alleviate the degradation of the Natural and Human Environment, that has characterized the Area for the past Century! In accordance with the recommendation of the MAB Bureau made when this site was designated as a biosphere reserve in 2000, new core areas consisting of the small Dassen and Vondeling Islands and their surrounding seas areas have been added, thus improving the representation of Coastal Marine Systems of this Biosphere Reserve. It is hoped that the progress made in the promotion of sustainable development objectives and strategies will reach outside the Biosphere Reserve Boundaries, so that it might become a model for Coastal Zone Management, in the whole of South Africa! The Major Ecosystem types are: Coastal plains, Marine-influenced Fynbos Area, Rocky Islets, Marine Areas and Wetlands. Some of there major projects include: The use of Cape Gannets to provide ancillary information on the status of Epiplagic Fish Stocks; Flora Survey of the Southern Core Area; Long-term monitoring and population dynamics of Seabirds; Long-term study of demography and dietary changes of African Black Oyster Catchers; Groundwater resources; Tortoise Populations; Wader Populations in the Langebaan Lagoon and the Berg River and Inclusion of Dassen Island, Vondeling Island as Marine Core Area for Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve!