| Vanwyksvlei | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa Northern Cape#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -30.35°N 70°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Northern Cape |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pixley ka Seme |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Kareeberg |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 2.66 |
| Population Total: | 1721 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 2.3% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 92.5% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 0.9% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 4.0% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.3% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 97.7% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 2.3% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal Code: | 8922 |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Postal2 Code: | 8922 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
Vanwyksvlei or Van Wyk's Vlei (Afrikaans for Van Wyk's Marsh) is a small town in the Northern Cape, South Africa.
The town is named after a farmer called Van Wyk, and the Afrikaans suffix vlei, meaning 'pond', 'marsh'. However, it is one of the driest places in South Africa, and the surrounding region is named the Dorsland (Afrikaans for Thirstland).[2]
Vanwyksvlei was founded in 1881.[2] It later saw action in the Second Boer War where two Victoria Crosses were awarded; Harry Hampton and Henry Knight were awarded the medal for gallant acts.
The Vanwyksvlei Dam was the first (1882) state-funded dam built in South Africa.[3]