THE NORTHERN CAPE (RSA)

Renowned for its southern Kalahari scenery and Richtersveld mountain desert, its abundant diamonds and being home to the world’s ‘first people’, the San-Bushman, Griqua and Nama is undoubtedly South Africa’s most unusual tourist destination. Not only is it completely different from other destinations in the country, it also is a destination of full of uncanny surprises, in fact downright irony. It is also regarded as one of the safest destinations in South Africa to visit.

Who would expect a desert to boast two of a country’s biggest rivers, the Orange and Vaal River, running through it? Who would dream of finding the world’s biggest flower display all along South Africa’s roughest and wildest coastline?

Who would believe that ten percent of South Africa’s vineyards are growing in the Upington region? Who could have guessed that the Northern Cape is home to six national parks: Ai/Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Vaalbos, Namaqua and Tankwa-Karoo, Augrabies Falls – the latter boasting the sixth highest waterfall in the world?

Augrabies Falls

Not only is the Northern Cape a prime destination for nature loves, it should be high on the list of travelers that are curious about indigenous people, archaeology, geology, life in the townships, diamonds, architecture, Anglo-Boer War history, arts and crafts, ghosts and the paranormal.

Namaqualand

Yes, in the Northern Cape you can indulge in activities as diverse as riding a camel into the sunset to fighting it out with a yellow fish on a fly rod at sunrise; plunging down the oldest working diamond mines in the world to following mighty Martial eagles and Pygmy falcons in the Kalahari: stand in awe of San-Bushman rock engravings or strange plants like the ‘Halfmens’ (‘Half Human’) or make your way down a thirty metre high Kalahari dune in a 4x4 vehicle or dune ‘surfboard’, tackling the river rafting rapids on the Orange River; enjoy live jazz music on a township shebeen or tracking ghosts in one of the many haunted houses. It never ends….

We offer you this website as a welcome gift and guide to ensure that you don’t miss our exciting and radically different attractions. We also hope that the information and suggestions contained in this map will make your stay just that little bit more pleasurable and memorable.

SOURCE: Northern Cape Tourist Authority