The area surrounding the lake gives mountain bike enthusiasts open stretches with rides into the Oviston Nature Reserve.

It covers an area of approximately 16,000 hectare and stretches from the dam wall on the west, to the Bethulie railroad bridge in the east.

In 1968, the Department of Agricultural Credit and Land Tenure and Water Affairs ceded control of the property to the provincial authorities.

A memorandum has been drafted by the MECs of the three provinces to effectively join the three reserves and create a conservation area in excess of 85,000 hectares.

The landscape consists of vast, open grassland with low koppies (small mountains) and is part of South Africa's "Big Sky" country.

Temperatures are mild for most of the year, with very cold snaps from June to August and periods of intense heat from January to March.