Everything Vaaldam
Vaaldam has a surface area of about 320 square kilometres. The Vaal Dam lies on the Vaal River, which is one of South Africa's largest rivers. It has over 800 kilometres of shoreline and is South Africa's second biggest dam by area and the fourth largest by volume.
The main towns next to the Dam are Deneysville and Oranjeville .
The Vaaldam is an hours drive from Johannesburg and has become the Watersport Mecca of the Gauteng region and South Africa.
The annual "Round The Island" yacht race is in the Guinness Book of Records for the most boats in an inland yacht race. Other yacht events on the dam are the Keelboat Week Regatta and the Bayshore 200 km jet ski race. All the Yacht Clubs also organise seasonal yacht races for members and visitors.
Several yacht clubs around the dam offer mooring facilities for small to ocean going yachts.
The Vaal Marina area has also become an economic hub and offers accommodation and business opportunities to those who wish to spend more time in the clean air and relaxed atmosphere next to the dam.
A major annual event is the ‘Big Bird Count’ that happens early in the year. Many experienced birders gather from all the corners of South Africa to take an annual census of waders and other waterfowl.
Another feature of the Vaaldam region is the appearance of the lovely pink, white and red cosmos flowers in Autumn. Many visit the area every year to view this spectacular show of nature.
The clear unpolluted skies are also perfect for Astronomy enthusiasts who wish to look at celestial objects which cannot be viewed in a large city.
