A series of caches between Calvinia and Ceres on R355. This is the longest uninterrupted road between 2 towns in South Africa, 250 km. The aim is to highlight the Karoo. The road covers various areas, from typical Karoo to semi desert and succulent plants. The area is circled by various mountain ranges as one travel from Calvinia to Ceres.
The name Tankwa is derived from the Koi name “place of the great river” or “place of great water”. This must have been eons ago as the area is now very dry and on the verge of a semi desert in the middle. The slower one travel the more you will see.
The road is notorious to be a tire “eater”. Be prepared!!!
From here on you will be traveling on the last high ground down to the Karoo. The Bloukranspass is nice and have beautiful views over the landscape. To the right the Cederberge will show at some point (S 31 41.188 E019 45.252). For those who have been up to the “Tafelberg” and visited the “space Ship” cache – a moment of joy when you recognise it. If you have not been there – well make a plan!!!
This is now down from the plateau. A flat area from here on to almost close to Ceres. The landscape is starting to die off and the plants are beginning to thin out. Soon there will no more plants. There are signs of some succulent plants here.
Around S 31 57.592 E019 42.500 you will have a glimpse on the Ou Berg Pass with Sutherland just behind it. A bit further to the right is another splendid view on the Cederberge S 32 01.092 E019 42.449
The cache is once more on ground level between some bushes.