A date in the desert
Breathtakingly spectacular big-sky country.
Pofadder is a remote and inhospitable region in the Northern Cape, known as Bushmanland. It has been chosen for various purposes in the past, such as a nuclear waste disposal site. However, nearby lies the lush "Green Kalahari," fed by the Orange River. The primary tourist attraction is the Augrabies Falls, while vineyards along the river from Keimoes to Kakamas also draw visitors.
Klein Pella is an impressive date farm spanning nearly 20,000 hectares, contributing to the region's unique agricultural diversity. Only about 14,000 trees are cultivated for date production, as male and female trees are required for fruiting. Dates are wind-pollinated in natural settings, but commercial orchards use laborers or wind machines for manual pollination.
Pella, a settlement in the region, is an oasis with a spring discovered by the San people. It was later established as a mission station in 1814 and renamed after a town in Macedonia in 1895. The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, built over seven years, stands as a testament to the community's resilience.
The town has a modest population of around 2,500 people and offers limited tourism facilities. However, nearby Klein Pella farm is popular among off-road adventurers due to its proximity to the "Mountains of Mars." Despite the harsh environment, the region showcases adaptability of life forms and offers breathtaking landscapes for those who venture into it, especially during the cooler months.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
