Carolusberg is situated approximately nine km’s out of Springbok. With access from  the N14. Aggeneys one hundred kilometres east of Carolusberg. The town is part of the Namakwa District Municipality in the Northern Cape province. Concordia to Cape Town is approximately 580 km’s. Towns that fall under Nama Khoi Local Municipality are Bulletrap, Concordia, Carolusberg, Kleinzee, Komaggas, Nababeep, O’Kiep, Springbok, Steinkopf.

It has a rich copper mining history dating back to 1582 when Simon van der Stel and his party explored the area for gold deposits and discovered, instead, copper deposits. A mine shaft was erected at the place where Van der Stel dug, while an obelisk commemorates the history of copper mining explorations in Carolusberg. In 1983 the Deep Ore Copper Project, a division of the Okiep Copper Company (OCC), commenced operations in Carolusberg.

The Deep Ore Mine is 1690 meters in depth, and by 1985 delivered 120 000 tons of copper per month. Underground rock temperatures have been recorded to reach 57 °C. Carolusberg is a typical mining town with a school, a clinic, a grocery store, a recreational club with a bar, a ladies lounge and an Olympic swimming pool. Residents of Carolusberg make use of Springbok’s facilities such as petrol stations and other retail stores. Tourists can contact the Copper Rocks Project for accommodation and other related enquiries. Copper Rocks Project Cell: 078 518 5495
While visiting stop in at the Simon van der Stel Mine: Visit the historic gold mine dating back to 1685. Simon van der Stel’s little copper mine is situated high up on the slope of the Copper Mountains, about 11 kilometres east of Springbok, on the road to Aggeneis and Pofadder. Turn-off on R64, just over 7km outside Springbok. Take Carolusberg turn-off and then the site is indicated by signboards from there. Type of site: Mine

Carolsusberg is situated in the Goegap Nature Reserve. This 7 000 hectare nature reserve, just east of Springbok, supports 600 different indigenous plant species, 45 mammal species and 94 bird species.

The characteristic granite domes and peaks of the region contrast with the sandy plains, where springbuck, gemsbok and Hantam’s Zebra forage.

Bird enthusiasts can look forward to spotting the Cape Eagle Owl, Black Eagle, Booted Eagle, Ludwig’s Bustard, White-backed Mousebird, Karoo Eremomela and the Dusky Sunbird to name but a few.

The Hester Malan Wild Flower Garden within the reserve showcases many Namakwa succulents and features a rock garden. This succulent garden is also the starting point to a 17-km tourist loop, which one can drive to explore a cross section of the reserve’s habitats.

There are also 4×4 routes for exploring further afield. Between August and
September the region bursts into a display of floral grandeur.

The reserve is open from 08:00 to 16:30 all year round. An entrance fee is payable at the gate.

Goegap Nature Reserve
Tel: +27 (0)27 718 9906

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Key Statistics 2011

Total population 1,336
Young (0-14) 22%
Working Age (15-64) 71,4%
Elderly (65+) 6,6%
Dependency ratio 40
Sex ratio 108,4
Population density 11 persons/km2
No schooling aged 20+ 1,8%
Higher education aged 20+ 2,3%
Matric aged 20+ 23,7%
Number of households 400
Average household size 3,3
Female headed households 31,3%
Formal dwellings 97%
Housing owned/paying off 68,7%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage 77,8%
Weekly refuse removal 80,3%
Piped water inside dwelling 79,8%
Electricity for lighting 92,5%