Northern Cape
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Things to explore... from A-Z Karoo Kalahari Northern Cape at a glance Tourism Information • Vanderkloof Dam • Hunting Land Area: 362 591.41km² NORTHERN CAPE TOURISM AUTHORITY Adventure Sport • Karoo Architecture • Roaring Kalahari Route Experience the The largest province in South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 53 833 1434 · Fax +27 (0) 53 831 2937 • 4 x 4 – see list in the following panel • Khoisan Rock Art • The Eye of Kuruman Email: [email protected] • Angling – coastal and fresh water Population: ±1.058 million www.experiencenortherncape.com • Karoo Battlefields • Largest open pit iron ore mine in the world Population Density: 3 per sq km Northern Cape • Abseiling • Hippo Pool • Wonderwerk cave DIAMOND FIELD TOURISM • Hunting • White and Roaring Sands • Robert Moffat Mission Station Capital City: Kimberley 121 Builtfontein Road, Kimberley 8300 Major Towns: Calvinia, Colesberg, De Aar, Tel: +27 53 832 7298 / Fax: +27 53 832 7211 • Mountain biking • Fossil Footprints • Rock Art painting Kuruman, Springbok and Upington Email: [email protected] • Paragliding • Wine Cellar Climate: Hot to very hot in summer, FRANCES BAARD TOURiSM (KiMBERLEy) THE NORTHERN CAPE, renowned for its southern • White water rafting 4x4 Trails mild to cold in winter 51 Drakensberg Avenue, Carters Glen, Kimberley Kalahari scenery and Richtersveld mountain desert, • Hiking Namakwa • Nossob 4 x 4 Route: +27 (0) 12 4289111 Tel: +27 53 838 0911 / Fax: +27 53 861 1538 its abundant diamonds and being home to the Major Airports: Kimberley, Upington Email: [email protected] • Skateboarding world’s ‘first people’, the San-Bushmen, Griqua and • South African Astronomical Observatory • Pulai 4 x 4 Route: +27 (0) 721596726 Nama is undoubtedly South Africa’s most unusual • Dune boarding • Namaqua Flowers • Richtersveld Route: +27 (0) 12 4289111 Main Roads: Good, suitable for all vehicles GREEN KALAHARI TOURISM 30 Swartmodder Ave, Upington tourist destination. Not only is it completely • Quad biking • Mission Stations • Riemvasmaak Trails: +27 (0) 54 3372800 Health: Malaria-free Tel: +27 54 337 2800 / Fax: +27 54 332 6589 different from other destinations in the country, it • Horse riding • Mines – present and past • Augrabies Route: +27 (0) 54 4529200 Email: [email protected] also is a destination full of uncanny surprises, in fact Languages: Afrikaans, English, Nama, SeTswana and Xhosa www.greenkalahari.com • Birding • Nama Culture • Khamkirri: +27 (0) 827901309 downright irony. Who would expect a desert to boast two of a country’s biggest rivers, the Orange and • Water sports • Orange River Estuary • Kalahari Trail: +27 (0) 54 5310019 UPiNGTON TOURiSM Vaal River, running through it? Who would dream of • Golfing • Cape Fur Seal Colony • Diamond Coast Trail: +27 (0) 27 8770028 Library Building, Mutual Street, Upington Tel: +27 54 3387151 / Fax: +27 54 3387350 finding the world’s biggest flower display all along • Scenic Drives • Witsand 4 x 4 Trails: +27 (0) 53 3131061/2 Email: [email protected] South Africa’s roughest and wildest coastline? Who Tourism Attractions • Shipwreck • Namaqua 4 x 4 Trail: +27 (0) 27 7128035 The regions Website: www.kharahais.gov.za would believe that ten percent of South Africa’s vineyards are growing in the Upington region? Who Diamond Fields • Quiver Tree Forest • Toekoms Trail: +27 (0) 83 3383048 KALAHARI TOURISM 4 Federal Building, Mynbou Street, Kuruman could have guessed that the Northern Cape is home to • Waterfalls • Banksgate Trail: +27 (0) 2062 ask for 1930 •Kuruman • The Big Hole Tel: +27 53 712 8700 six national parks: |Ai|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Kalahari • Belgravia Historic Walk Green Kalahari Email: [email protected] Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Mokala, Namaqua, Green Kalahari www.roaringkalahari.co.za Tankwa-Karoo, Augrabies Falls - the latter boasting • Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme For further information visit • Riemvasmaak Hot Springs Diamond the sixth highest waterfall in the world. • Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre www.experiencenortherncape.com • Upington Fields KAROO TOURISM 45 Voortrekker Street, De Aar • Red Dune Route •Kimberly • Battlefields Route • Springbok Tel: +27 53 632 9100 / +27 53 631 4176 Not only is the Northern Cape a prime destination • Orange River Wine Cellar • Robert Sobukwe House Fax: +27 53 631 0105 for nature and adventure lovers, it should be high on • Date Palm Avenue Email: [email protected] the list of travellers that are curious about indigenous • Northern Cape Provincial Legislature Karoo • SA Dried Fruit Co-operative Website: emthanjeni.co.za people, archaeology, geology, life in the townships, • McGregor Museum Namakwa • diamonds, architecture, Anglo-Boer war history, • Operating Waterwheels De Aar NAMAKWA TOURiSM • William Humphreys Art Gallery • Calvinia cultural and liberation history. • Quiver Tree Forest Voortrekker Street, Springbok • Ghost Trail Tel: 27 27 712 8035/6 / Fax: +27 27 712 1421 • San Culture [email protected] Travel well as we wish you many happy returns to a • Township Tour • Verneukpan www.namakwa-dm.gov.za truly unique destination! • Hakskeenpan Diamond Fields Region Green Kalahari Kalahari Karoo Namakwa Region Experience The Diamond Fields include the city of Kimberley (capital of The towns of the Green Kalahari include Andriesvale, Augrabies, The Kalahari towns include Black Rock, Dibeng, Dingleton, The Karoo includes Britstown, Belmont, Campbell, Carnarvon, Aggeneys, Alexander Bay, Brandvlei, Calvinia, Carolusberg, Northern CapeSouth Africa the Northern Cape), Barkly West, Delportshoop, Hartswater, Jan Beeshoek, Daniëlskuil, Groblershoop, Kakamas, Kanoneiland, Hotazel, Kathu, Kuruman, Van Zylsrus. Colesberg, Copperton, De Aar, Douglas, Griquatown, Hanover, Ho- Concordia, Eksteenfontein, Fraserburg, Garies, Hondeklip Bay, Kempdorp, Modder River and Warrenton. Keimoes, Kenhardt, Mier Area/Askham, Noenieput, Olifantshoek, petown, Hutchinson, Loxton, Marydale, Norvalspont, Noupoort, Kamieskroon, Kleinzee/Koingnaas, Komaggas, Kuboes, Lekkersing, Onseepkans, Postmasburg, Upington An often bleak and forbidding country, its shimmering spaces Orania, Petrusville, Philipstown, Prieska, Richmond, Strydenburg, Leliefontein, Loeriesfontein, McDougall’s Bay, Nababeep, The sights during the original diamond rush of up to 30 000 spread out beneath an unrelenting, hot and metallic sky, it seduces Three Sisters, Vanderkloof, Van Wyksvlei, Victoria West, Vosburg, Nieuwoudtville, Okiep, Pella, Pofadder, Port Nolloth, Sanddrif, miners working 3 600 claims have long gone but memories Bleak, shimmering semi desert contrast dramatically with lush the visitor and those living in its towns and villages with a disarming Witput. Soebatsfontein, Springbok, Steinkopf, Sutherland, Vioolsdrift, of the Kimberley tent-town’s glory days still linger. Many old vineyards filling the Orange River’s fertile valleys. The large body lack of pretension hiding an embarrassing wealth of natural Williston. of water meanders through a valley of its making, between the buildings, museums and one of South Africa’s most important art and mineral riches. For between the simple sweep of its horizon Small, isolated but ever-welcoming villages with fascinating, wide- massive islands defying its erosive powers. Each spring, Namakwa, the land of the Nama and the San, shakes galleries lend an historic ambience to the modern city. A partial and the clean, spherical arc of its deep blue sky, visitors will find ly differing histories, a distinct Karoo architecture and imposing off winter’s bite and covers the vast arid spaces with symphonies of reconstruction of the original ‘rush town’ alongside the incredible historical towns and villages, the easy-going charm of the country churches rest in valleys between desolate, flat-topped koppies. Take Once the border of the Cape Colony, the Green Kalahari was South floral splendour. The sunbaked deserts come alive with a multitude Big Hole, the largest hand-dug excavation in the world, still offer and an always-warm welcome. Today, the Kalahari is home to 40 a short trip from Colesberg, an essential stopover for all travellers Africa’s Wild West and many a rogue, including the notorious Scotty of wild flowers and unique plants. Adapting to a climate defying visitors insight into the lives of those early adventurers. Smith, sought refuge from the law in its far spaces. The legendary raptor and vulture species (of 67 species in South Africa) and seven and a sheep-farming centre surrounded by some of the country’s all life, they survive and thrive in a beautiful land of blistering Koranna leader, Klaas Lukas, occupied the second-biggest island on owl species (of 12 species nationally). Beneath the clean sweep finest horse studs, to Hopetown, the scene of South Africa’s first extremes. Tracking the Old Copper Way back to the 17th century Today prospectors still sift for treasure at their claims in the the river. From his impregnable base, he gave the Cape government of our uncluttered horizon, not far beneath the Kalahari’s great recorded diamond find. Return, passing Orania, a peculiar, anach- soak yourself in the colourful histories of towns deeply rooted gravels of the Vaal River near Delportshoop, site of the first alluvial and Reverend Christian Schröder the permission needed to establish blanket of red sands, hides a treasure trove of iron, manganese ronistic, self-proclaimed Afrikaner volkstaat, before making your in a proud mining tradition. Take an unforgettable raft or canoe diggings in 1869.