The Northern Cape is the largest yet most sparsely populated region of South Africa. It is also among the least visited, with a limited tourist infrastructure. Much of the region is dominated by desert and rugged mountain ranges, but there are also beautiful stretches of Atlantic coast, flatland salt pans, and raw South African bushveld to discover. This is a diverse region, and well worth exploring if you can allow the time to do it justice.
The largely barren Namaqualand region of the Northern Cape is host to one of the most stunning flower displays every spring between late July and mid-September, as fields blossom creating a blanket of orange and purple as far as the eye can see.
Beautiful fishing villages dominate the West Coast along the Atlantic seaboard, while to the South, and within reach of Cape Town, are found the Cederberg Mountains, which offer perhaps the best trekking and climbing routes in South Africa.
The Orange River, the longest in South Africa, flows through the region providing a vital source of irrigation to the semi-arid desert of the Great Karoo and the Kalahari, and also serving as a natural boundary separating South Africa from Namibia. Along its course are found little-visited national parks such as Augrabies Falls and Richtersveld, natural oases where life thrives in this otherwise harsh desert environment.
In and around the Northern Cape & West Coast, South Africa
The Cederberg Mountains are famous for their lengthy walking trails and San (Bushman) Rock Art sites. We’ve organised small trekking parties into the region in the past – get in touch if you’d like to learn more.
Consider visiting the West Coast National Park near Langebaan, not just for the fauna & flora, but also for the unique fossil deposits in the area. If you are a keen walker or simply want to escape the tourist hotspots, then you might happily spend a few nights in this unspoiled area.
In the far north of the West Coast you’ll find some of South Africa’s most remote wilderness reserves, including Richtersveld Transfrontier Park and Augrabies Falls National Park. On the border with Namibia, these beautiful parks stand out for more for their desert and mountain scenery than their big game. The few visitors they receive reflects their remoteness more than anything else. We sometimes include a visit to Richtersveld Transfrontier Park in our southern Namibia itineraries, for instance our Desert Nights small group adventure.
The Northern Cape isn’t all remote wilderness. History buffs can follow the Anglo-Boer War Route and relive the events of 1899-1902. This well-established route starts in the regional capital of Kimberley, a former British stronghold, and continues to visit Hopetown and the battlefield sites of Graspan, Belmont and Magersfontein, among others. This can be done as a private, self-drive tour or with a group.
Those with an appetite for adventure will also find much to enjoy in South Africa’s Northern Cape and West Coast region. In addition to the great trekking routes and remote wildlife parks already mentioned, a range of adrenalin activities is available in and around Kimberley, including river rafting, motorcycling, 4x4 trails and paragliding.
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