Introducing Christiana on Vaal

Bloemhof is located on the banks of the Vaal River in the North West Province.  The South African town of Bloemhof was established in 1864 and is today a maize and cattle farming town.  When diamonds were discovered in the Vaal River in the 1870s, the former Transvaal Government quickly set up a town on the banks of the river, in an attempt to control and alleviate land disputes over diamond discoveries further down the Vaal River. 

This town was set on the farm Zoutpansdrift and named Christiana.  Today, the production of beef, maize, sorghum, groundnuts and cotton play an important role in this region of the North West Province.

Attractions in and around Bloemhof, North West Province (South Africa)

Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve

The Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve is home to a variety of small and large antelope species and 256 bird species.  Visitors have the opportunity to fish for carp and barbel on either the Bloemhof Dam or the Vaal River.  The Bloemhof Dam is one of the prime angling destinations in South Africa and hosts a number of major local and international angling competitions.  The game reserve hosts most of the plains species which can be viewed on open grassland.

South African Lombard Game Reserve

Situated to the northwest of Bloemhof, the South African Lombard Game Reserve is a known game breeding centre.  It provides an important gene pool for many plains game species, particularly the black wildebeest where the species was saved from extinction.

Attractions in and around Christiane, North West Province (South Africa)

Tourist attractions in and around Christiana include the Diggers' Diamond Museum, the precious San Bushman Rock Art and Stows Kopje which are prehistoric rock engravings that  have been declared a national monument.