The Northern Cape is South Africa’s largest province. The most popular attraction in the Northern Cape is the flowers in Namaqualand. Adrenaline junkies, adventure seekers, and outdoor enthusiasts are spoilt for choice with activities. These range from rock climbing to white river rafting, 4×4 trails, adventure motor biking, paragliding, and fly-fishing.
Northern Cape Best Attractions / National Parks
Let’s begin with the Green Kalahari Region which includes Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park; the southern Kalahari. Noteworthy accommodation that falls into this region includes Tswalu, Tutwa Desert Lodge, and !Xaus Lodge.
Augrabies Falls National Park
The Augrabies Falls National Park covers an area of 820 km² and stretches along the Orange River. The area is very arid. The waterfall is about 60 meters high and is awe-inspiring when the river is in flood. The gorge below the falls averages about 240 m deep and runs for 18 kilometers. The gorge provides an impressive example of erosion into a granitic basement.
Augrabies Falls National Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
One of the world’s last truly unspoiled ecosystems, the park is a result of the unification of South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok Park and Botswana’s Gemsbok National Park. At 38 000km2, it is one of the largest conservation areas in the world.
Red sand dunes with sparse desert scrub and the dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob in which thorn tree, raisin bush and shepherd tree predominate, extend across the national boundaries.
The park gives sanctuary to herds of endemic antelope that have roamed the semi-desert savannah and endless pans for aeons. These include gemsbok (oryx), springbok, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest and eland. Then there are the black-maned Kalahari lion, leopard, cheetah and smaller wildlife including mongooses, porcupines and honey badgers. Approximately 300 x species of bird, including at least 20 x species of large raptor, share the endless blue sky.
Antelope of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Namakwa Region
Namaqua National Park
With 3500 plant species (1000 of which are found nowhere else on earth) there is much to appreciate in this rich floral kingdom. In spring, hordes of tourists flock to what is colloquially known as Namaqualand. The reason is the spectacular fields of wildflowers that bloom throughout this area at this time of year. The dry and dusty plains are transformed; almost overnight; from dull browns to a kaleidoscope of color, with millions of flowers coming alive to salute the sun.
This carpet of color stretches from the main center of Springbok all the way to the rugged coastline.
Wild flowers in Namaqua National Park
Animals found in the park include the shy and elusive leopard caracal as well as springbuck, porcupine, baboon and jackal. Seals and other sea creatures that pass through the marine reserve section of the park allow visitors to enjoy another aspect of Namaqua.
A pair of Booted eagles nest in the tall trees opposite the reception area each year. A delight for birders. Not to mention the many other bird species to be spotted, such as the Jackal Buzzard, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler and Karoo Lark to name but a few.
Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
Formed in August 2003 by the signing of an international treaty between Africa and Namibia, the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park straddles the Orange River border between these two nations. From the south, visitors are able to cross the Orange River, with their vehicles, on a pontoon at Senglesdrift into the Namibian side of the park. Likewise; visitors have access to the South African side of the park from Namibia.
Though surrealistically harsh (this is the driest area in Northern Cape), the Richtersveld nurtures some 30% of all South Africa’s succulent plants. Despite receiving less than 50mm of rain each year, it is also home to a variety of mammals that have adapted to this harsh climate. These include the black-backed jackal, leopard, Hartmann’s zebra, duiker, klipspringer and rock hyrax (dassies); which are a favourite prey of Verreaux’s eagle that can be seen hovering against the backdrop of the vast blue African sky. There are many other birds, including raptors that make this arid wilderness their home.
Dramatic and beautiful, the Richtersveld is no pampered paradise, but rather a wilderness retreat for the self-sufficient explorer. Roam the park in your 4×4, by foot or paddle down the river taking in the awe-inspiring, seldom-seen purity of this unspoiled wilderness.
Richtersveld
Early morning Atlantic fog rolls over the desert mountain range of the Richtersveld, bringing life-sustaining moisture to a myriad of succulent species in this inhospitable environment. This, the largest mountain desert park in southern Africa, consists of rugged mountains, rolling hills, undulating plains and the adjacent floodplains of the Orange River.
Karoo Region
Tankwa Karoo National Park
Tankwa Karoo National Park is situated on the southern boundary of the Northern Cape with the Roggeveld escarpment in the East, Cederberg in the West and the Klein Roggeveld Mountains in the South.
Just a four-hour drive from Cape Town brings you to this truly unique national park. The area is renowned for its rare and endemic plant species, the greatest variety of land tortoises on the planet, a rich bird life, and polarized landscapes; where sheer cliffs and ancient formations are juxtaposed with cracked dry riverbed flats.
Small insects scurry among tiny white paper-like flowers that embellish the landscape and contrast with the towering Klein Roggeveld mountains. Here you will find playful mongooses and other small mammals such as porcupines and duiker. While leopard and black-backed jackal are also present in the park.
Tankwa Karoo National Park
Cities in the Northern Cape
Kimberley
Kimberley is the city that shot to fame during the diamond boom so has a historic feel to it. Visitors can visit the spectacular Big Hole, the world’s biggest hand-dug excavation. This is next to a reproduction of the original “rush town.”
The many battlefields of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) can be explored on the well-marked N12.
A deep historical history that dates back to the very beginning of humankind is reflected in a rich archaeological legacy that includes breathtaking instances of old rock engravings.
Outside Kimberley is Kamfers Dam, which is one of four breeding areas in Africa and the only one in South Africa for the lesser flamingo. These birds can be seen here in large numbers of up to 60 000 birds.
Flamingos
Upington
Originally known as Kharahais, bound by the Orange River and the Kalahari desert; Upington is the principal town and commercial, educational, and social centre of the Green Kalahari, owing its prosperity to agriculture and its irrigated lands along the Orange River.
Two commercial airports are located in Kimberley and Upington. In addition, there are numerous airfields and smaller airports dotted throughout the province. The extensive, modern road network within the Northern Cape makes it easy and affordable to access and experience a wide range of activities.
Northern Cape Weather
The Northern Cape’s weather is typical of desert and semi-desert areas with fluctuating temperatures and varying topographies.
The western areas of the Northern Cape fall into the winter rainfall area, i.e. April to September. These include includes most of Namakwa and a small section of the Green Kalahari. These two sub regions give breathtakingly beautiful and flamboyantly explosive displays of wildflowers from late July to November.
Not to be outshone by the floral splendor, the central and eastern summer rainfall areas unleash majestic, rolling thunderstorms. Booming across the wide plains, the lightning display threatens to shred the sky’s dark curtain. Bolts repetitively pierce the heavens and strike the Earth. Fading swiftly, they melt back into a quiet, cobalt sky.
The scant annual rainfall (50m to 400mm) is unreliable and very much lower than evaporation. In January, afternoon temperatures are usually between 33 and 36° Celsius. Though somewhat unusual, summer temperatures do sometimes top the 40° mark.
Winter days are warm. However; the onset of the night brings dew and frost to supplement the low rainfall. Sutherland, in the Hantam Karoo, is one of the coldest towns in Southern Africa. Its average minimum is -6°. In winter, snow often blankets its surrounding mountains. In general, though, take it that you’ll enjoy hot summer days, warm company and chilly nights.
