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The little Karoo town of Carnarvon lies on the R63 between Williston and Loxton. The area around
the town is very arid with sheep farming being one of the main activities here.
The town dates back to 1847 and was named in honor of the then British colonial secretary,
Lord Carnarvon. Despite is size, it has some interesting sites to visit and if you are in the
area its well worth a stopover.
The peculiar Corbelled House is an excellent example. These round stone structures are built
totally out of local rock with a conical roof that is a marvel in engineering as there is no wood
or anything else to support it. The town also sports a museum and just outside town on the road
towards Loxton on a hill are the remains of an old Anglo Boer War Fort.
Accommodation is plentiful in Carnarvon, mainly in the form of B & B's and self catering apartments.
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The Corbelled House's are particular to this area, even though the basic concept of the roof is
said to be ancient. The museum is normally closed and does not seem to have been officially open
for years, judging by the dust. Nevertheless if you ask next door at the municipal offices, they
will get someone to open up for you and show you around. Its got a lot of interesting artifacts
inside, and they will also give you a tour of the Corbelled House next door. The road leading up
to the old Anglo Boer War Fort was pretty washed out, so take some caution travelling up there.
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