Alexander Bay Accommodation

Alexander Bay is tucked away in the far North Western corner of South Africa, where the Orange River flows into the sea. The town was put on the map in 1927, when Dr. Hans Merensky the "wizard" geologist of South-Africa, discovered diamonds together with oyster shells on an ancient marine terrace nearby. The discovery changed the course of history in this isolated frontier town, as fortune hunters flocked to the region. The alluvial diamond diggings were soon declared a state mine, a concern which still exists today, as a state owned company called Alexkor Limited. The lives of most inhabitants of the region, are somehow linked to the mine and its subsidiary activities. Over the years Alexkor Ltd. has diversified into agro-industry, mariculture and tourism. They run mine tours and allow controlled access to the coast, and play a major role in the development of the ecotourism industry for the region.

The Tourism Information Center for the region is also based in Alexander Bay. Walking and cycling trails link points of interest in and around the town, as Alexander Bay forms a focal point of the "Living Museum" concept, being implemented in the area.

The nearby Orange River mouth, also hosts a wetland of international importance, in turn supporting an immense variety of bird and aquatic species. This area was recently declared a "Ramsar Site". (The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.)

Climate
Alexander Bay is 240 km north-west of Springbok, the administrative centre of Namaqualand and being near the southern end of the Namib desert, it is officially also the driest town in South Africa with an average annual rainfall of less than 50 mm. The cold Benguela Current in the Atlantic Ocean has a moderating influence on the coastal climate with only small variations in diurnal and seasonal temperatures.

Activities
Alexander Bay boasts a 9 hole golf course with 18 tees. Visitors are welcome to enjoy a drink and the beautiful vista of Alexander Bay from the clubhouse.
Visitors can hire rackets and keys to the Tennis and Squash courts from the Alexander Bay Tourism Information Centre.
Visitors can contact the angling club through the Tourism Information Centre to arrange equipment and guides.
Though not officially catered for, there are excellent mountain biking opportunities in the area. Canoeing is also available from the Richtersveld to Alexander Bay.