Roggeveld

Roggeveld is a high Karoo region in South Africa, comprising a mountain range and the surrounding plateau. The Roggeveld Mountains form part of the broader Cape Fold Belt and span portions of the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces, lying in the arid interior north of the Western Cape lowlands. The landscape features rugged escarpments, deep ravines, and expansive moorland with scrub and drought-tolerant vegetation.

The climate is arid to semi-arid, with hot summers and cold winters. Frost and occasional snowfall can occur at higher elevations, and rainfall is low and highly seasonal, concentrated mainly in winter and spring. These conditions support a distinctive Karoo flora, including drought-tolerant shrubs and succulent species, as well as fauna adapted to open, dry environments. The region's biodiversity is supplemented by protected and privately conserved lands that aim to preserve its characteristic ecosystems.

Human activity in Roggeveld is predominantly pastoral, with extensive sheep farming on the surrounding plains and foothills. The area also sees tourism focused on nature and landscape appreciation, including scenic drives, birdwatching, and hiking in and around protected landscapes. Conservation areas within and around the Roggeveld help safeguard its endemic and drought-adapted species and the scenic, rugged topography that defines the region.

The name Roggeveld derives from Afrikaans/Dutch rogge, meaning rye, reflecting historical agricultural uses of the veld in the region.