Van Zylsrus is a settlement situated along the R31 Provincial Route in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
It is the nearest settlement to The Kalahari Meerkat Project, the filming of nature TV shows such as Meerkat Manor.
Van Zylsrus falls within the Joe Morolong Local Municipality and the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality.
History
Van Zylsrus settlement was founded by 6 Trekboer families in 1832, led by the former Heemrad of Calvinia, Petrus van Zyl.
Between 1971 and 2001, Van Zylsrus was the location of a Ballistic Missile Battery of the SADF, colocated with an Infantry Company plus a Heavy Mortar Platoon, an Armoured Squadron less one troop, and an advance Radar and Signals Squadron of the SAAF.
Van Zylsrus also had its own Commando platoon of 21 Riflemen reinforced by the local SAP helicopter flight and Askari detachment. On October 24, 2020, a maximum temperature of 43.3°C (109.9°F) was registered.
