Sundays River Valley / Addo-Kirkwood

Kirkwood is located in the Sundays River Valley (a sub-tropical region), on the banks of the Sundays River amidst farmland, and on the southern border of the Addo National Park. The Sundays River is the fastest flowing river in South Africa, with green river banks amidst the arid area of the Great Karoo through which it runs. The Khoisan name for the river is Nukakamma (grassy water).

Kirkwood lies south of the Zuurberg Mountains, which are located in the Addo National Park. It lies south of the Rietberg peak.

Kirkwood is known for its beautiful roses. In October the citrus trees flower, and the air heavy with their blossoms

Kirkwood is one of the largest citrus-growing regions in South Africa. About 30,000 acres are planted with citrus orchards. This area annually produces about 10 million cartons of citrus - oranges, lemons, grapefruit.

Addo Elephant National Park is set deep within the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The original Elephant section of the Park was proclaimed in 1931, a time when just 11 Elephant roamed the area.

Today, however, over 450 Elephant makes the Park its home, as well as Cape Buffalo, Black Rhino, a variety of antelope species and the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. Addo National Park is indeed a unique and diverse wildlife sanctuary, and plans to expand and transform Addo is already in motion.

At this Eastern Cape game park you will experience an unrivaled natural diversity, boasting 5 of South Africa's seven major vegetation biomes. Addo is also home to the 'Big 7', namely Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard, Whale and the Great White Shark.

The Sundays River Valley is well known throughout the world for the fact that it is able to produce almost any kind of citrus, thanks to both its special climatic conditions and its location in a valley, which is not too close to the sea. Citrus farming is particularly dependant on both summer and winter temperatures. Ideally, for the best possible quality fruit, with internal quality and good colour, the temperature should not be too hot in summer, nor too cold in winter. Despite its hot summers, which allows the area to produce fruit with a high sugar content, the Eastern Cape is regarded as a cool citrus producing area. This accounts for the excellent quality of the navels and lemons it produces. The cold, frost-free winters assure good colour development.

The climate also allows growers to diversify their range of products and so increase the length of their picking season. Thanks to this flexibility, the Sundays River is known as the one-stop-shop where international suppliers know they can purchase all their requirements from.

One of the most vital resources required for good citrus production is water, which the Sundays River Valley enjoys in abundance. Fed via a tunnel from the Gariep Dam into the Fish River, the water flows into the upper reaches of the Sundays River and from there into the Darlington Dam, which feeds the valley’s irrigation system.

The soil, another important ingredient, has a higher than average ph. Soil enhancement and adaptation is achieved through the use of fertilizer. Another important factor however, that of soil drainage, is good. Open hydroponics – or enriched water supply – is an innovative, relatively new technique of fertilization which is becoming more popular among growers who supply SRCC. The soil is enhanced through the addition of sufficient nutrients to the water supply. This sophisticated computer-generated method gives the grower more control over the size, shape and quality of the fruit he produces.

However, the irrigation method that is the most cost effective and therefore becoming increasingly popular, is drip irrigation. Using just 3-4 litres of water per hour, it consists of a pipe with specially designed nozzles which drip water at a pre-determined rate.