Allow the mysterious blend of desert landscapes and fertile abundance found in the Northern Cape region of South Africa to seduce you into a lengthy stay in this area. While you won’t find sophisticated city amenities here, you will find an amazing array of luxury destinations and experiences that will have you coming back to the Northern Cape time and time again.
Take your pick of landscapes from the diverse offerings of the Northern Cape; the region spreads from the Karoo into Namaqualand, the Diamond Fields and the Green Kalahari and stretches up north to the red dunes of the Kalahari proper.
Wherever there is water in this arid land there is life so head to the waterfalls and rivers of the region. The majestic torrents that rush down a series of granite cataracts in the Augrabies Falls National Park ensure an abundance of wildlife in the Park from the smallest of succulents to an array of birds, gentle giraffes, buck and reptiles. In the eastern part of the Northern Cape, discover the Eye of Kuruman, apparently the biggest natural fountain in the Southern Hemisphere pumping more than 20 million litres of pure water into the surrounding area. Be mesmerised by the vivid contrast between the red dunes of the Kalahari and the narrow ribbon of fertile land that runs alongside the Orange River. Millions of kilograms of grapes and citrus fruit are grown in this verdant strip, most of them destined for the tables of Europeans.
Spend your days exploring the parks from the Richtersveld, a mountainous desert in the northwest to the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve set on the edge of a mysterious desert wilderness. Far up north find Africa’s first transfrontier park, the Kglagadi, straddling the border between South Africa and Botswana and offering you up-close encounters with the mighty predators of Africa.
Test your adventurous spirit on the dunes and rivers of the region. Anything is possible from sand boarding, quad biking to abseiling and river rafting. At night sample the local delicacies like roosterkoek and venison and wash it all down with a bottle of delicious Northern Cape wine. If you are searching for cultural experiences visit the myriad of museums and heritage destinations in the region and make sure that you take the time to view the ancient art of the San, found on rocks and in caves throughout the Kalahari region of the Northern Cape.
Travel here in springtime for one of the most awesome natural displays of flowers you are ever likely to see. Following the first rains the wildflowers spring up covering the barren landscape in a kaleidoscope of colourful succulents and daisies, literally transforming Namaqualand.
Be mesmerised by the undulating landscapes seen through shimmering heat waves, the richness of flora and fauna, the luxury accommodation and the depth of the experience awaiting you in the Northern Cape region of South Africa. Contact the Southern Africa Travel team today.
The Northern Cape is best known for:
The Kimberley Big Hole
Visit the largest hand dug excavation in the world, the Kimberley Big Hole. Once a flat-topped hill, it is now a gigantic hole that has yielded close to 3 000 kilograms of diamonds in its lifetime. You can view the hole from the observation platform and visit the museum and surrounding shops.
Augrabies Fall National Park
The local San call this area, Aukoerebis, the place of Great Noise because of the thunderous sounds made by the mighty Orange River crashing its way downwards for more than 60m in a spectacular waterfall. The beautiful quiver trees stand as sentinels along the 18km abyss of the Orange River Gorge and the area is abundantly filled with plant and animal life.
The Kokerboom Forest
More than 700 giant aloes combine to form this Kokerboom or Quiver Forest. The name originates from the Khoisan who used the wood from the aloes to make quivers for their arrow. You are welcome to walk through the masses of these four metre high ‘trees’.
Off the beaten track:
Head into the desert on a camel
Surely one of the best ways to explore the Kalahari is by camel! You can choose from short excursions to safaris on these swaying animals of the desert, either way this would get folks talking back home.
Visit Verneukpan
This vast dry saltpan saw Malcolm Campbell set a world land speed record in 1929 for going 212 miles per hour over a distance of five miles. You can still see his tracks across the saltpan. Today the pan is popular with kite flyers and paragliders as well as keen birders who make use of the outlook posts set out along the pan.
