Aroab

Aroab
Skyline image of Aroab
Aroab Location in Namibia
Coordinates: 26°48′S 19°39′E / 26.800°S 19.650°E / -26.800; 19.650
Country	Namibia
Region	ǁKaras Region
Constituency	Keetmanshoop Rural
Government
• CEO	Elsa Laubscher
Population (2016)
• Total	c. 5,000

Aroab is a village with a population of approximately 5,000 in the ǁKaras Region of southern Namibia. It is situated about 170 kilometres (110 mi) south-east of Keetmanshoop on the edge of the Kalahari desert; the average annual rainfall is about 150-200mm. Aroab is the district centre of the Keetmanshoop Rural electoral constituency.

In 1900 Misters Blaauw and Oppermann, supposedly of German descent, traded Aroab and the surrounding area from an indigenous Nama tribe for sheep and rifles. A quarrel about a ground dam resulted in the two gentlemen splitting the land in two - Aroab and Streitdamm, the ranch adjoining Aroab to the west.

The vast majority of income is generated on ranches in the surrounding area and stem from sheep, goat and cattle ranching for meat production purposes. The most common sheep breed ranched with is Dorper, with Persian, Damara, Van Rooy, Karakul and others to a lesser extent. Popular cattle breeds for this area are Nguni, Bonsmara, Bramhan and various others to a lesser extent. Various sheep, cattle and goat stud breeders are registered in the area.

During the months of May - Aug (winter) meat hunting takes place widely. Huntable species are Oryx (gemsbok), Springbok and Kudu. To a lesser extent trophy hunting is also available.

Aroab is only reachable on land via gravel road - the C16 170 km from Keetmanshoop and 35 km from the Klein Menasse / Rietfontein borderpost, the C11 182 km from Karasburg and 142 km from Koës. An unmanned gravel landing strip for light aircraft is situated northwest of the village.

Aroab has surprisingly many schools for such a small place. There are government primary schools (grades 1-7), a Roman Catholic school, a government senior secondary school (grades 8-12) and a private school. There is also a Roman Catholic clinic that provides basic medical services, a post office, Police station, Village Council and various churches (among others Dutch Reformed & Roman Catholic). Other businesses include a farmer's cooperative, general dealer, windpump repairs & engineering and a small abattoir and butchery.