Things to explore... from A-Z Karoo Kalahari 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 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: , 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: , 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 • 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 • 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, , Alexander Bay, , 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, , , , , Kempdorp, Modder River and Warrenton. Keimoes, Kenhardt, Mier Area/Askham, Noenieput, Olifantshoek, petown, Hutchinson, Loxton, Marydale, Norvalspont, Noupoort, , /, , , , , Postmasburg, Upington An often bleak and forbidding country, its shimmering spaces Orania, Petrusville, Philipstown, Prieska, Richmond, Strydenburg, Leliefontein, , McDougall’s Bay, , 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, , , Pella, Pofadder, , , 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. , 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. missionary settlements on the north bank of the river. His edict and other precious ores. Though the mechanised giants of the way to the resort town of Vanderkloof and the Rolfontein Nature trip through imposing canyons on the sliding flow of Namakwa’s led to the establishment of Keimoes, and Abraham September, a open-cast mining industry have gouged great, gaping wounds in Reserve on the shores of the great Vanderkloof Dam. Indulge in the artery of life, the Orange River. Or take your 4x4 on an adventure During the Anglo-Boer War, Kimberley and the British Army was freed slave, initiated irrigation along the Orange River. Klaas Island the desert floor, they have - with all the modern technology at water sports of your wildest choice or relax on its secluded banks in the haunting moonscapes of the stunningly barren, sawtoothed besieged by the Boers for four months. Lieutenant- General Lord is now part of the Augrabies Falls National Park, where the fury of their disposal - only dented the surface of its enormous wealth. which stretch 100km to the Doornkloof Nature Reserve on the mountains of the untamed |Ai|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. Methuen’s struggle to reach Kimberley from Orange River Station a huge torrent of angry water plummeting 90m down a series of In towns like Black Rock, Hotazel and Dingleton, the mechanical man-made lake’s southern shores. Enjoy the cultural interaction of the whilst taking a just 120km south of the town is an epic story of courage. One granite cataracts speaks volumes for the river’s awesome power. behemoths will continue to harvest nature’s mineral wealth donkey ride in Eksteenfontein or staying over in the community- of several conflicts on Methuen’s northerly march, the Battle of By 1884, the river had been claimed by colonialists, and irrigation for decades to come. And, each day, in an exuberant display of Throughout this wonderful part of the great Karoo, you can visit, run Kookfontein rondavels near Steinkopf. Experience the mystery Magersfontein ranks as one of the Boers’ greatest victories. The and development followed. Today, you can travel peacefully from superabundance, millions of litres of crystalline, mineral rich water hunt or hike on game farms and nature reserves teeming with and wonder of the star-studded night, from the South African town was finally relieved by General John French’s cavalry on 15 a raisin processing plant to a catfish farm; from wine cellars to pours into this arid landscape. Flowing from an amazing dolomite every species of antelope. And, like the country they live in, the Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland where the clear Karoo sky tearooms in the desert; from a luxurious lodge to the desolation February 1900. spring as strongly and as steadily as if the rock had been struck by hardy inhabitants of the Karoo, many being the descendants of shows millions of stars. of Verneukpan. Moses, the beautiful Eye of Kuruman feeds forests of majestically 19th century. But Kimberley’s diamond story and the siege are parts of only the tall camelthorn trees silhouetted against the seamless horizon of Alternatively, wrap yourself in an aura of meditation and escape to Yet, not all is tamed. The mighty Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, most recent history here. A rich archeological heritage, including the timeless serenity of a solitary, palm-fringed cathedral at Pella. Africa’s first transfrontier park, comprises almost four million the great, mystical and miraculous . stunning examples of ancient rock engravings, reflects a past that Or, as the copper sun sets on Port Nolloth’s diamond sea and the hectares of sparsely vegetated, red sand dunes and dry riverbeds. Map Brochure reaches back to the very origin of humankind. last, lonely lines are reeled in, indulge in a crayfish barbecue (braai). The reserve provides sanctuary for antelope, gemsbok, springbok, The land of the Nama is the Creator’s playground, a kingdom of blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, lion, leopard, cheetah and contrasts where beauty and a rigorous climate pool mysterious smaller game. One of Africa’s last pristine game reserves, the size forces to creates, exude an uncommon hospitality, making you feel of the park allows for the mass migration of different species. immediately at home in their beloved countryside. Unions 825 1520 1175 1040 1553 418 837 806 403 337 666 712 460 641 Calvinia End Polentswa 4x4 Wilderness Trail • Groot- 454 965 623 520 881 779 219 486 560 857 522 284 143 Colesberg kolk 520 1132 744 557 980 762 346 507 426 813 547 305 De Aar • Gharagab Mabuasehube 4x4 Trail (one way) 752 832 467 750 842 960 175 202 409 800 238 Kimberly

990 873 519 988 1080 1084 413 140 263 662 Kuruman Nossob / Mabuasehube 4x4 Access Route 1291 1543 1274 1365 1642 554 975 813 399 Springbok 912 1144 875 958 1242 822 576 403 Upington 955 742 382 920 805 1162 315 Vryburg Bitterpan • 636 771 417 575 667 998 Bloemfontein Travel Distances • Kalahari Tented 756 1780 1405 1039 1662 Cape Town Camp 926 690 595 668 Durban Urikaruus •

300 1215 994 East London !Xaus • Lodge 1060 356 Johannesburg • Kielie Krankie 1375 Nelspruit Port Elizabeth

|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park

National Parks and Provincial Nature Reserves

National Parks Mokala National Park Goegap Nature Reserve Tel: +27 (0) 53 204 0158 Tel: +27 (0) 27 718 9906 Central Reservations South African National Parks Namaqua National Park Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve Tel: +27 (0) 12 428 9111 Tel: +27 (0) 27 672 1948 Tel: +27 (0) 27 218 1010

|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Tankwa Karoo National Park Rolfontein Nature Reserve Transfrontier Park Tel: +27 (0) 27 341 1927 Tel: +27 (0) 53 664 0171 Tel: +27 (0) 27 831 1506 Witsand Nature Reserve Augrabies National Park Provincial Nature Reserves Tel: +27 (0) 83 2347573 Tel: +27 (0) 544 529200 Doornkloof Nature Reserve Tel: +27 (0) 51 753 3006 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Tel: +27 (0) 54 561 2000

Transport General Travel Information Kimberley has air and rail links with most major South African cities. The luxurious Blue Train and Rovos Rail travels from Pretoria to Cape Town via Tourist Safety Johannesburg and Kimberley. Upington also has air links with all major Though the Northern Cape is a safe haven for tourists, we urge you to cities in South Africa. Car Hire Companies are represented at the airport take the same precautions you would in any other city or town. Avoid the and in major towns. unnecessary display of valuables and do not walk in deserted places or go out alone at night. Weather The Northern Cape’s weather is typical of desert and semidesert areas. International dialling We live in a large, dry region of fluctuating temperatures and varying The international dialling code for South Africa is 027. The first 0 in the topographies. local dialling code falls away eg. 053 833 1434 becomes 027 53 833 1434. The scant annual rainfall (50-400mm) is unreliable and very much lower Banking than evaporation and, in January, afternoon temperatures are usually Most banks are open Mon-Fri 09h00-15h30 & Sat 09h00-11h00. Autobanks between 33-36° Celsius. In 1939, at on the Orange River, an are found in bigger towns. all-time high of 47.8° was recorded! Though somewhat unusual, summer temperatures do sometimes top the 40° mark. Winter days are warm - Petrol (Gas) the onset of night bringing dew and frost to supplement our low rainfall. Though widely available at most towns, we recommend filling up before Sutherland, in the Hantam Karoo, is one of the coldest towns in southern travelling long distances. On major routes and in bigger towns, petrol Africa. Its average minimum is -6°! In winter, snow often blankets its stations are open day and night. surrounding mountains. In general, though, take it that you’ll enjoy hot summer days, warm company and cold nights. June - August.