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Town Medium Alexander Bay

ID: w136638 View large map

Located in South Africa :: Northern Cape (West Coast)  :: Alexander Bay
Category: Places :: Town Medium

Booking

Alexander Bay on the southern bank of the Orange River mouth, is a town in the north-west of South Africa. In 1836 it was named after Sir James Alexander, who was the first person to map the area whilst on a Royal Geographical Society expedition into Namibia.

In 1927, Dr. Hans Merensky, a famous South geologist, discovered diamonds on an ancient marine terrace nearby. Fortune hunters invaded the region and the alluvial diamond diggings were soon declared a state mine, called Alexkor Limited.

The town is served by an airport known as the Alexander Bay Airport. The nearby Orange River mouth, also hosts a wetland of international importance, supporting a huge variety of bird and aquatic species. This area was recently declared a Ramsar Site.

The town of Oranjemund lies on the northern bank of the river, which forms the international border with Namibia.

Traveller Description

This is a diamond mining town situated at the mouth of the Orange River.

Contact
Address :  West Coast, South Africa
Cellphone Reception :  Good Main Cellular Network :  MTN. Vodacom

Destination Information
Police Hospital Petrol Shops Shopping Centre Bank ATM Lodging Liquor Restaurant Airport Mechanical Repair
Police Telephone :  +27(0)27 831 8002
Hospital Telephone :  +27(0)27 831 1996
Petrol Type :  Unleaded 95

Facilities
Other Facilities :  Mine/Quarry.

Activities
Golf

Travelling Information

FUEL:
24hr Petrol station.

ROAD CONDITION:
There is a gravel route from Alexander Bay to Springbok, which is heavily corrugated. Since there are very few farmers on the stretch, the mine does not bother to scrape it on a regular basis. This road used to be very well kept at all times.

TYRE PRESSURE/ REPAIR:
One needs to adapt your tyre pressure to the road condition and load, so it might help to blow your tyres down to under 1 bar on a road like this for example. Closest town to get tyre repair is in Port Nolloth which is 95 km away. (May-14).

 Travel Tip!

You will find Lichen hill here - the only hill, protected and covered in Lichen in South Africa. (ie. Symbiosis of 2 organisms, a fungus and algae).

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