White Water Rafting

The gorgeous Northern Cape frequently gets a raw deal. Often ignored or overlooked for the more obviously exciting alternatives of the Eastern and Western Cape or the Limpopo, it doesn’t deserve its Cinderella complex, despite its apparent desert or semi-desert state.

If anything, these beautiful arid plains interspersed with haphazard rocky outcrops, brilliant blue skies, unique fauna and flora and the icy Atlantic that washes its western boundary give it a unique beauty all its own. And when it comes to beauty nothing beats the floral carpets that cover these scrub-covered plains come spring, or the star-filled skies during evenings.

What makes this province particularly attractive to adrenaline junkies is its largely open and unpopulated spaces. Rugged trails, dusty back roads, enchanting caves, diamond fields and the Northern Cape’s oasis – the Green Kalahari – offers endless outdoor adventure possibilities …

Namaqualand

Uncover the daisies in Namaqualand:
It’s imperative to define ‘adrenaline type expeditions’ around now, before we land ourselves in ‘hot water’ at waxing lyrical about flowers.

Whilst discovering daisies in the beautiful Namaqualand does not require a desired level of fitness, it certainly gets the blood pumping for the sheer beauty of this magical floral display.

After the first winter rains, seeds that have lain dormant from the year before suddenly begin to germinate and as spring begins, burst into flower. Timing is everything, and if you must work up a sweat, then do it at a hop, skip and a jump, or soar over the Namaqualand on a hot air balloon! Alternatively hike the Malan Wild Flower Garden in the Goegap Nature Reserve.

Ride the Orange

Ride the Orange River:
Hardly a traditional take on the life force of the Northern Cape. The Orange River, Gariep river, Groot River or Senqu River is the longest in the country. Along its banks runs a green agricultural belt that is in stark contrast to the ruggedness of the Richtersveld. Sometimes also known as the Green Kalahari, the Orange River is flanked by a combination of vineyards, farms and game farms.

A number of canoe tours ride the waters along which there are regular camps where you get to sleep under the stars. During the day the waters can vary from smooth and tepid to fast-paced rapids. It’s a tough but beautiful view of the Northern Cape’s greener side.

Contact: Umkulu Safari & Canoe Trails on +27 (0)21 853-7952 or Felix Unite on +27 (0)21 702-9400.

Augrabies Nat. Park

Do the Gariep 3-in-1 Adventure in the Augrabies:
This combination of canoeing, walking and mountain biking should get the adrenaline pumping. Row 4 kilometres through a gorge along the Orange River, then desert hike 4 kilometres, and return to camp by mountain bike on gravel road for 12 kilometres.

This allows a wonderful exploration of the Augrabies National Park. It’s also not the only adventure you can follow in the park.

You can choose from the Aukoerebis 4×4 eco-trail, and a three day Klipspringer hiking trail.

Contact: Augrapies National Park on +27 (0)54 452-9200 or SAN Parks on +27 (0)12 428-9111.

Sandboarding

Sandboard the roaring dunes of the Kalahari:
The beautiful Witsand Nature Reserve is home to the famous roaring sands of the Kalahari (given the right conditions they rumble if disturbed, in a distinctly supernatural fashion).

Witsand’s white dunes stand rise between twenty to sixty metres and are surrounded by the equally beautiful copper-red sand of the Kalahari and the Langberg Mountains.

It is one of the sandboarding destinations in the country (rent your board at reception), and on a clear day one can even see Table Mountain from the top of dunes.

Dive for Crayfish

Dive for crayfish at Port Nolloth or Hondeklip Bay:
Spend a morning on a traditional rowing crayfishing boat with the local fishermen. This part of an almost untouched coastline is incredibly beautiful. Some of the best crayfish diving spots are pretty remote and aside from diving gear and a boat, you’ll also need a few diving partners.Special licences can be bought in Garies or Springbok ahead of time. Bon apetite! Contact Port Nolloth Backpackers on +27 (0)79 866-9960.

Paraglide in De Aar:
This exciting hybrid of hanggliding and parachuting leaves you suspended and flying free as a bird once launched out of an aeroplane, or from a mountain launch (the choice is yours, by all accounts). Sitting on little more than a harness and air, this is regarded as one of the purest forms of free flight. De Aar, south east of Prieska and south west of the Gariep Dam, has its very own paragliding school that attracts hanggliders and paragliders from all over the country and indeed the world.

Contact: Fly De Aar on +27 (0)53 631-1555.

Useful Links:
For more ideas of activities in the Northern cape see our growing selection of Things to Do in Northern Cape and browse through our Northern Cape Attractions pages. You are sure to find plenty to keep you busy whilst on holiday in the Northern Cape. And don’t forget to book accommodation – for best rates and no-commission bookings see Northern Cape Accommodation.

Quiver Tree forest in the Northern Cape – By and © Barbara Minnie

Richtersveld Landscape

The Richtersveld National Park is arguably one of the most unforgiving landscapes in South Africa. A desert, where rainfall is unheard of for most of the year, and communities are sparsely spread around the vast, sometimes lunar landscapes.

With the park being run by the residents of the area themselves, however, expert experience and advice is on hand, ensuring that any trip to the area will be a memorable one. The Richtersveld is located in Northern Namaqualand, in the Northern Cape, and stretches all the way up to the Orange River, South Africa’s border with Namibia.

Despite the isolation, there is much to see in this rugged, dramatic area which enjoys UNESCO world heritage site status, for those who are willing to take the time to explore. Populated by the San people since prehistoric times, the area is still dotted with their artworks, some almost perfectly preserved despite the passing of the centuries. These engravings, known as petroglyphs, were chipped by the artists into the hard dolomite rocks by hand, using rudimentary tools, and provide some insight into the cultural history of the area.

Another cultural experience is performing the Namastap, a traditional Nama dance, led by descendants of the original inhabitants. This can be arranged through the Eksteenfontein Information centre. Other attractions and activities organized by the centre are hikes and pipe car trips to view gravesites and traditional stock posts, donkey cart rides to and around the Rooiberg (Red Mountain) as well as hiking trails, such as the Ventersval Trail, Lelieshoek Oemsberg Trail and Koedaspiek Trail, which range from 4 days for the former, to 2 days for the latter.

Spring Flowers

Despite the otherworldly, desolate appearance of the landscape at first glance, another draw card for the area is the rather unique plant and animal life to be found here.  the most famous of these must be the Halfmensboom, which translates as “half-person tree”. Local people named the tree  because of its resemblance to the human form and  revere the trees as the embodiment of their ancestors. Other plant life includes around 650 species, including the world’s most prolific collection of succulent species and the Richtersveld is known as one of the most fascinating mega ecosystems in the world.

Since roads are notoriously poor in the Park, access to most areas is by off-road vehicle only, but many organized 4 x 4 trips are available. Visiting during flower season will provide tourists to the area the opportunity to view the spectacular, if brief transformation of the park from a dry desert, into a living carpet of flowers and colour (see Namaqualand Flower Route).

As can be expected, accommodation in the area is mostly rudimentary; however, this offers even more opportunity to get closer to nature. Camping facilities and self catering accommodation are on offer, and can be arranged through local tourism offices.

While this area may lack the hustle and bustle of other tourist attractions, it surely has much to offer visitors in terms of unique fauna and flora, cultural experiences, and sheer natural beauty, and should not be overlooked when planning a trip in South Africa.

View a Flickr slide show of photographs of the Richtersveld: http://www.flickr.com/search/show/?q=richtersveld

Useful Links:
For additional destination information see:
SANParks – Richterveld Transfrontier National Park
Northern Cape Accommodation
Richtersveld Cultural & Botanical Landscape

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Despite being South Africa’s largest province, the Northern Cape is its most sparsely populated and looking at the almost lunar landscape, characterised by dry, rocky crags and sand it’s clear that the climate plays a large part in this. This is a harsh, unforgiving landscape not given to agriculture which makes it unique in South Africa. But amongst the arid starkness of the Karoo and Kalahari, which make up the majority of the province, there are startling flashes of life unique to the area.

The Orange River flows along the border between this province and Namibia on its path to the sea and in this region, the dry, dusty appearance of much of the surrounding landscape is transformed into an oasis of green vegetation and cool water. Straddling the Orange river and combining land from both the Northern Cape and Namibia is the Ais Ais Transfrontier Park, a haven for the area’s succulent plants as well as local wildlife, who coexist peacefully with local shepherds.

Another park worth a visit is the Richtersveld, a rocky landscape, dotted with the curios “half-mens” plants, which are the stuff of local legend. It’s also a great spot for bird watching, and has some good 4×4 trails and hikes on offer.

Augrabies National Park, another reserve in the area, presents a very different appeal. This is where you will find the Augrabies Falls, which thunders over the precipice of a granite gorge, offering spectacular scenery as well as rich bird life and small game.

The San people, descendants of South Africa’s first ancient inhabitants, call this area their home.

A unique feature of the Northern Cape is its restitution of land to the local peoples for oppression by previous governments. They have been empowered in terms of tourism and many of the lodges and guesthouses, and even game reserves, are run as public private partnerships, between these peoples and the local government.

Such is the case with the Riemvasmaak community who operate 4×4 trails, accommodation and the warm baths which are fed by a natural underground spring.

On the coast, unlike most of South Africa’s coastline, there is very little in the way of population, with many small fishing villages dotted along the coast of the cold Atlantic, barely altered since they were founded. Likewise, the small town of Sutherland, renowned as one of the coldest places in South Africa, and having gained acclaim as the home of the giant SALT telescope.

Namaqualand Flower Route

One cannot speak about the Northern Province without mentioning Kimberly, its capital. A small city, it was the site of the diamond rush in South Africa in the 19th century, and still retains many remnants of that era, the most famous of which is the “Big Hole” an open cast mine dug largely by hand by those first pioneering prospectors.

If you are lucky enough to visit the area in the springtime, you will be rewarded by the site of the desert suddenly bursting into a riot of colour. It is at this time of year that the famous Namaqua daisies burst out of their drab winter colors, and transform the desert floor into a living carpet of colour.

Without a doubt, the Northern Cape is, much like the industry that brought many to the area, a diamond in the rough, full of surprises and culture, and well worth a visit for a taste of something a little out of the ordinary.

Useful Links:
For further information and travel resources, please visit:

• Northern Cape Tourist Attractions
• Things To Do in Northern Cape
• Northern Cape Accommodation
• Northern Cape Hotels