HONNEHOK CHALETS & 4X4 TOURS
Tours in Garies

While not affluent and used to living meagerly, the community have a pleasant and carefree nature. In Hondeklip Bay the ocean still smells like it should since there is a constant supply of clean, fresh and invigorating air. Here peace and tranquillity is a way of life and folks live at ease with their surroundings. Unable to find a suitable harbour from which to export the ore, 158 years passed before, in 1843, revived interest in the rich copper fields of Namaqualand saw attempts to transport the copper ore by ox wagon or by boat from the mouth of the Orange River to the Cape of Good Hope. These endeavours proved futile and pioneer miners became increasingly despondent. Providentially in 1846, Thomas Grace, a ship’s captain discovered a small natural harbour where he immediately established a trading station. The copper ore was conveyed from the mines at O’kiep to Hondeklip Bay by means of ox wagons across the mountains and deep, sandy plains on roads that were almost non-existent. Prisoners were shipped from Cape Town to Hondeklip Bay from where they had to walk to the prison station at the Buffels River. At this point there was apparently only one shopkeeper left. It continued to subsist as a small centre, shipping agricultural produce to Cape Town. This used to be the mainstay of the local community, processing both lobster and white fish. However, the grounds became considerably fished out and in 1994 the factory was mothballed. Today the buildings are being utilised to run an experimental Abalone farming project. The crayfish factory was the only industry operating in Hondeklip Bay until diamond-mining operations started in The farms Hondeklip and portions of the adjoining farm Avontuur are characterised by a series of large excavations and overburdened dumps. Many of these were created in the 70’s and are currently merely being made safe! Overburden dumps are only sloped to enhance stability and sustainability. Unfortunately, for the community of Hondeklip Bay, this is not much in the way of a bequest, as very slight development and growth have been left behind. The community can only trust that this company will do some responsible rehabilitation before they ultimately depart. A major factor that has always been standing in the way of development in Hondeklip Bay is the scarcity of water. During 1998 a water pipeline was laid from the neighbouring town of Koingnaas to Hondeklip Bay. This was supposed to replace the old system of carting water by truck, but due to a misunderstanding between the Namaqualand Regional Council, the Department of Water Affairs and De Beers Consolidated Mining, almost 2 ½ years passed before the pipeline was officially operative in Although the water is limited in quantity and quality, a historic milestone had at last been achieved at the beginning of the 21st century!