Sights to see

Augrabies Falls National Park – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – Richtersveld National Park – Green Kalahari – Namaqua National Park – Kimberley

Places to go

Trip to wild flower bloom in Namaqualand (seasonal) – Visit to a diamond mine (apply ahead) – explore untouched nature in Richtersveld National Park – Photo safaris in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – Tour to giant waterfalls of the Orange river in Augrabies Falls National Park – Canoeing on the Orange river – Wine degustation along the Orange River

South Africa’s biggest province covers almost 30% of the surface of the country, this means it is much bigger than Germany, but has fewer inhabitants than the city of Cologne. In the north, it borders to Botswana and Namibia, in the west it reaches out to the Atlantic Ocean. The endless land is mainly a semi-desert. Northern Cape is considered the home of the first San bushmen, of the Griqua and of the Nama. The province is the home of enormous diamond supplies. In Kimberley, where the first diamonds were found, you can visit the „Big Hole“, the world’s biggest man-made crater.

The museum village represents the period of the first diamond diggers. In the semi-desert of the Great Karoo with the small, isolated villages, sheep and horses are the main produce. On some farms, you may see rock paintings made by bush men. Along the Diamond Coast between Hondeklip Bay and Alexander Bay you can book 4x4 tours to ship wrecks, and visit diamond mines (apply ahead). Every year in spring, the extremely dry Namaqua land enchants visitors with its wonderful wildflower bloom. In Sutherland, in the South African Astronomic Observatory, you can observe the amazingly starred sky above the Karoo (apply ahead). The world’s biggest population of succulent plants is growing in Richtersveld National Park – a special attraction for all lovers of nature. North of Upington you find the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which was created in 1999 by a merger of Kalahari Gemsbok National Park South Africa with the Gemsbok National Park Botswana. The animals that live there have adjusted to the extreme climatic conditions. The park is famous for its red sand dunes and its Kalahari lions. The landscape around the Orange River is very different. On both sides of the river, there is a fruitful oasis where wine and fruit are cultivated. In the Augrabies Falls National Park the Orange River falls 56 m deep into a granite canyon. All around the Orange River, there are plenty attractions for ambitious athletes, from roping to white water rafting or mountain biking. Lovers of Off-Road-tours can choose from different trails, and hikers will find a giant offer of hiking trails. Northern Cape is a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts!

“Follow the sun rather than the masses” is the promotion slogan of this province.