Escape to the Northern Cape, one of the biggest provinces in South Africa, known for its scenic desert landscapes, wild spring flowers and wildlife. This beautiful province offers plenty to see and experience with its array of museums, camping spots, sand dunes, road-tripping scenery and lots more.
Did you know that Kimberley is not the only town in the Northern Cape with a big hole? Nababeep, about 20km north-west of Springbok, has one too. The massive hole on the premises of the O’okiep Copper Company is a remnant of decades of copper-mining activities and it is filled with bright-green water, which makes it quite a spectacular sight.
Enjoy a joy ride on a camel at the KoppiesKraal Guest Farm. Go on half-day trips or overnight rides, and spend the night at the ‘Lost City’. Camels are not native to southern Africa, they were brought into the Northern Cape to be used by the police ‘mounties’ to patrol the greater Kalahari area before the days of 4x4s. The statue, The Camel and Rider, in front of the police station in Upington, honours those who patrolled the harsh desert territory on camelback. So make sure you make the most of your trip by riding one.
This gem is a book lover’s dream. Indulge the avid reader in you with a trip to the little town of Richmond and explore the main street lined with restored period 19th-century architecture, boasting a tunnel of bookstores. For an even better bookworm experience, time your visit with one of the annual book festivals.
Discover the Eye of Kuruman, the biggest natural spring in the Southern Hemisphere delivering approximately 20 to 30-million litres of crystal clear water daily, supplying Kuruman’s domestic water, feeding the Kuruman River and two 7km irrigation canals. The Eye was discovered by Samuel Daniel during the Truter Somerville expedition in 1801 and it was this source of water that led to the establishment of a mission here in the early 19th century, which led to The Eye being described as the fountain of Christianity and in the early years, the Tswana people christened this fountain Gasegonyane, which translates to ‘small calabash with bubbling water’.
Make a stop at the home of the famous ‘Brulsand’ or Roaring Sands of the Kalahari, these dunes emit a strange roaring sound when disturbed and this roaring only occurs in the hot dry months between September and April, as any rainfall mutes the dunes for a number of days. Animals in the Witsand Reserve include springbok, gemsbok, steenbok, duiker, red hartebeest, ground squirrels, meerkat, porcupine, aardwolf, aardvark, pangolin, bat-eared fox, cape fox, genet, and spring hare. Witsand offers an interesting combination of arid region and bushveld birds, such as sociable weavers, secretary bird, crimson-breasted boubou or shrike, kori bustard, lilac-breasted roller and more. Wildlife and nature lovers will definitely enjoy this spot.
Explore the Wonderwerk Cave, situated between Danielskuil and Kuruman and stretching 139km, contains a wealth of human and environmental history dating back several hundreds of thousands of years. Get to see the well-preserved specimens of flora, finger paintings on the walls and rock art that can be found in the cave.
Feeling adventurous? Take a dip in the Riemvasmaak hot springs, situated to the north of Augrabies Falls and offer magnificent views of the large cliffs surrounding the area, as well as indigenous fauna and flora. The springs were originally a product of volcanic eruptions and while these have ceased, underground activity still heats the waters of these springs.
This natural sinkhole can be found on Mount Carmel Farm about 55km south of Kuruman. It was formed by underground water dissolving the dolomite rocks above and is almost completely filled with fresh water with the 100m diameter surface pond often covered in duckweed. It is estimated to be 270m deep, making it one of the deepest freshwater caves in the world. A definite spot for extreme Instagrammers.
Put on your warmest puffer jacket and head on to the land of snow and stars also known as the “Gateway to the universe”. Sutherland is well known as the coldest place in the Republic with the average minimum temperature being 3°C throughout the year and the average maximum being 20,5º C.
Did you know that the growing of tulips in South Africa was pioneered by Rev M B Brink right here? In 1925 he arrived in Sutherland during a snowstorm and having studied for several years in Holland, he immediately realised the climate in Sutherland was similar to Holland, therefore ideal for growing tulips! He made the Dutch tulip a well known South African flower and today tulips are mainly cultivated in Sutherland to produce bulbs for the market.
Whether you are looking for an adventurous getaway, a culture and history lesson surrounded by beautiful architecture or some time out in a serene landscape, Northern Cape is the place to visit. Make sure you add this magnificent province on your next must-explore list.
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