This area is known as the desert because of the dry clay-like ground. The original owner of the bigger farm Rietvally, the late Mr LJ van der Merwe, used the farm for grazing for his cattle from 1948 to 1994 and referred to this part of the farm as the “brakkolle”. His great-grandfather, Mr JF van der Merwe (known as Oupa Kotie), owned the farm in the late 1800s and used the existing farm for winter grazing due to the abundance of water as a result of the natural underground fountain. It even withstood the severe drought of 1933.
There are still many thorn trees in the desert area but the grass coverage is sparse. The rest of the farm is covered in lush vegetation and includes a ‘wetland’ area. Because this is one of the most water-rich farms in the area, many bird species make Andanté Game Farm their home.
There is also a six-hectare open ‘veld’, which seems to be the “meeting place” of most of the species of buck in the late afternoon. The blue wildebeest, kudu, zebras, impalas and blesbok (and occasionally nyalas) can be seen lazily walking around and grazing on the lush grass on this open field as the sunsets