The most prominent town in the Bophirima region is Vryburg which is also the centre of a large agricultural district. The larger part of the Bophirima region is commonly known as Stellaland. The region is home to Taung, the site of the discovery of the Taung skull, one of the world's most important archaeological discoveries. Bophirima has a strong mining and agricultural economy. The vast expanses of this region are home to a great variety of game species, including lion, buffalos and rhino.
Bophirima Region is situated 1200 metres above sea level. The climate in the region is generally dry with warm and sunny winters. The summers are hot, and the annual average rainfall is 430mm and is the largest producer of beef, and the region boasts the largest herds of Herefords in the world. It is home to a variety of game including lion, buffalo and rhino. The region is a popular destination for big game and wildlife trophy hunters. The most prominent town is Vryburg with attractions such as the Leon Taljaardt Nature Reserve the eclectic museum in the town hall and the nearby Swartfontein Resort. Bophirima was previously known as Stellaland which was founded in 1882 as an independent republic.
It was a region dominated by frontier characters such as the legendary Scotty Smith – a convicted army deserter, gun runner, horse thief, smuggler and First World War spy. Whilst it had its own flag, coat of arms and Volksraad the most lasting impression of the Stellaland republic is its pen-cancelled postage stamps – which are extremely rare and highly valued in the world of philately. Bophirima is the location of one of the world’s most famous fossil discoveries. The Taung skull was discovered in a lime quarry at Taung in 1924. A museum on the farm Armoedsvlakte near Vryburg marks where Sir Arnold Theiler, veterinary scientist and founder of the world-renowned veterinary research institute of Onderstepoort, started his work on animal diseases.
