Characterised by its open spaces, friendly peoples, rich history and unique cultural diversity, this land of the extreme promises an unparalleled tourism destination of extreme nature, extreme culture and extreme adventure for those who dare to experience it. It is served by two airports, Kimberley and Upington with daily flights from Johannesburg and Cape town and charter options from Windhoek, Victoria Falls and an internal network making exploration of all five regions possible. The province is divided into five regions and boasts a total of six national parks, including two Transfrontier parks crossing into world-famous safari destinations such as Namibia and Botswana as well as six provincial nature reserves, two of the largest rivers in South Africa and three legendary deserts. Each region will capture the imaginations of those who dare to explore it and its ancient mysteries.

Exploring the Northern Cape

1. Diamond fields Region – Kimberley and surrounds

The most famed of this area is Kimberley’s diamond story and Anglo Boer siege are part of only the most recent history here. A rich archeological heritage, including stunning examples of ancient rock engravings, reflects a past that reaches back to the very origin of humankind. Other historical towns include Barkly West also rich in diamond mining history, Windsorton which started out as Hebron a mission station then as diamond mining town, Vaalharts Valley where the mighty rivers of the Vaal and Harts river meet and is the bread basket of the province with the production of citrus, stonefruit, wine, olives, peanuts and pecan nuts and the towns of Warrenton, Jan Kempdorp and Hartswater and also home to Mokala National Park home to black and white rhino and the elusive roan antelope

Highlights in this region include:

Kimberley Big Hole and Mine Musuem
This, the most visited tourist attraction in the Northern Cape, has undergone a major revamp.

The Belgravia Historic Walk
Two kilometres of historic sites and statley Victorian homes.

Legends of Kimberley
Numerous locals have helped to shape South Africa, such as Sol Plaatje who translated the Bible into Setswana.

Vaalharts Valley
Visit one of the world’s largest irrigation schemes that waters over 1000 farms only a 150 km outside Kimberley

Kimberley Day tours

A selection of guided or self drive/walking tours of Kimberley and surrounds

A. Mining Tour of Kimberley and discover the ghost of Kimberley

• Visit the Big Hole and Open Mine Museum.
• Visit hand mechanical alluvial diamond diggings.
• Evening Ghost Tour offer a glimpse to those still haunting the town.

B. Kimberley Historical Tour

• Belgravia Historical Walk offers visitors a rare insight into an authentic and romantic past.
• Visit the McGregor Museum
• Visit the Railway Museum and relive some of the joys of steam travel in South Africa.
• Visit the Big Hole and Open Mine Museum and take a trip down memory lane.
• Visit William Humphreys Art Gallery.
• Guided Legends & Heroes Tour to Galeshewe .

C. Cultural tour of Historic Kimberley and Galeshewe

• Do the Archaeological Route and trace the origin of mankind. This includes visiting the Ancestors Display at McGregor Museum, Wildebeeskuil, San Rock Engravings and !Xu & Khwe San Art Centre at Platfontein.
• Traditional lunch at Township restaurant.
• The guided Township Wonders Tour offers visitors a rare insight into the lives of ordinary black South Africans.
• Ghost Trail and dinner in a haunted building.
• Ghost trail is a guided tour.

D. Historical and Cultural Tour of Kimberley

• Belgravia Historical Walk
• Visit the McGregor Museum
• Visit William Humphreys Art Gallery
• Enjoy a light lunch at the gallery.
• Visit the Big Hole and Open Mine Museum
• Follow the footsteps of Sol Plaatje, the main who authored ‘Mhudi’ to become the first African to publish a novel in English.

E. Archaeology Kimberley

• Archaeology Route. An information packed and guided day tour with plenty opportunities to take photographs of South Africa’s most sensitive San-Bushman rock engravings and stone age heritage.
• Visit Ancestors Display in McGregor Museum.
• Wildebeestkuil San Rock Engravings, !Xun & Khwe San Art Centre at Platfontein, Nooitgedacht Glacial Pavings and engravings.
• Visit Canteen Koppie where the world’s biggest stone-age hand axe was found and the Barkly West Museum.
• Ghost trail and dinner in a haunted building

F. Anglo-boer war tour

• Siege and Relief of Kimberley.
• En route visit the Pioneers of Aviation Museum to catch a glimpse of the birth of aviation in South Africa.
• Paardeberg is a ‘must visit’ for any Anglo-Boer War fundi. It became the biggest and most drawn-out battle during the entire Anglo-Boer War campaign.
• Railway Museum
• The Africana Library is regarded as one of the foremost research libraries in South Africa.
• William Humphreys Art Gallery
• Visit the Honoured Dead Memorial.

G. Anglo-boer war tour to Magersfontein

• This N12 Anglo-Boer War Route offers visitors access to South Africa’s most accessible, exciting and authentic battlefields.
• Step onto the historical battlefields of Orange River Station, Belmont, Graspan, Modder River and Magersfontein.
• The latter is home to arguable the best Anglo-Boer War museum in the country and a delightful restaurant

All above tours are USD150 per person

2. Namakwa Region

Each spring, the dormant and arid winter plains of the Namakwaland comes alive with a flamboyant spread of wild flowers. It also has a rich and deeply rooted mining tradition and the Old Copper Way present visitors with the chance to follow in the footsteps of explorers of yesteryear. This is also home to two of the Northern Cape’s most impressive natural attractions, Namaqua National Park and Ais Ais /Richtersveld Transfrontier Park National Park. 

In this area you can also find “Salt” Southern African Largest Telescope found in the town of Sutherland and at 1 450 above sea level known for its brilliant night skies, said it is the best stargazing in the world and was also home to the well known South African Poet, NP van Wyk-Louw. 

Heading to the northern part of Namaqwa one finds the town of Springbok situated amidst the Klein Koperberge (small copper mountains), Nabapeep, Steinkopf home to the original Nama (Bushmen) settlement, the coastal town of Port Nolloth which served time firstly as a small vessel harbour supporting the copper mining industry then since 1925 a flourishing diamond mining industry as was similarly the case in the neighbouring town of Alexander Bay where you can still today go on a diamond mine and museum tour and also engage closely with the Nama communities at Sanddrift, Eksteenfontein and the famed Orange river estuary a Ramsar site.

Highlights include:

|Ai|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
southern Africa’s surrealistic mountain desert

Much more than flowers
a rich and rare plantlife has adapted to the harsh climate

Copper and Diamonds
routes along mines of old and present day

South African Astronomical Observatory
the sky’s the limit

I. Exploring the Namaqua Region

Day One
• Arrive in Upington from Johannesburg/Kimberley
• Transfer to Augrabies National Park.
• Arrive at Augrabies National Park.
• Visit the main falls.
• Lunch at Augrabies
• Depart for Springbok upon arrival explore “Orbicule Koppie”
• Return to overnight accommodation where dinner will be typical South African “braai”.

Day 2
• After breakfast explore Goegap Nature Reserve and experience some of the magical floral scapes of the province
• Depart for Port Nolloth and enroute visit local attractions such as the Trail of the Iron Lady and the Nama huts at Steinkopf.
• Upon arrival in Port Nolloth stop for lunch
• Depart for a Local Tour to Alexander Bay and dinner

Day 3
• Early morning departure for Ai Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park and explore Sendelingdrift and a picnic lunch
• Depart for Eksteenfontein for overnight and dinner

Day 4
• After breakfast depart for Namakwa National Park via Springbok and Kamieskroon.
• Picnic Lunch inside the park and leave for Springbok via the scenic N7 route
• Dinner and overnight

Day 5
• After breakfast visit the date plantation
• Depart for Pella and visit Pella Cathedral
• Depart for Onseepkans to see the Quiver Tree Forest
• Lunch and depart for Upington
• Visit the Orange River Wine Cellars for wine tasting of the finest wines of South Africa.
• Dinner

Day 6
• After Breakfast depart for the airport for midmorning departure

USD 1 285 per person sharing

3. Green Kalahari

The contrasting vastness of the Green Kalahari will overwhelm visitors with its dramatic changes in landscape from dramatic semi-deserts and the stark silhouettes of sweeping sand dunes to the lush green valleys of vineyards and fruit orchards hugging the banks of the mighty Orange River and the awe inspiring Augrabies Falls National Park where the Orange River is at its most impressive as it thunders its way through a ravine and into a pool walled by sheer granite, creating the world’s sixth largest waterfall. The falls derived their name from the Khoi word meaning ‘place of great noise’ which accurately describes the roar as the falls plummet 56m into the ravine. 

The principal town in this region is Upington, a former mission station, and a contrasting sight of lush emerald green vineyards against the semi desert reds, Kanoneiland, a small island settlement, Keimoes, (mouse’s nest) and Kakamas from the Khoi word ‘gagamas’ are quaint, must see towns with their eccentric coffee shops and little road stalls along the highways offering delicious local cuisine and warm hospitality. Other towns include Mier, Askham, Noenieput and Welkom, once home to the world’s oldest ancient tribes, the !Khomani San and today a small community is still to be found there.

Highlights

Augrabies Falls National Park
Place of great noise - the world’s sixth largest waterfall

Riemvasmaak - A Community Restored
a community run mountain desert wilderness and hot spring

The Red Dune Route
warm hospitality in a remote desert area

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
a 3.7 million hectare unspoilt ecosystem and Africa’s first Transfrontier park linking Northern Cape with Namibia and Botwana

The Orange River Wine Cellars
the largest co-op wine cellars in the country and world wine

Exploring Kalahari and Kimberley

Day 1
• Depart for Upington from Kimberley
• Arrive in Upington, dinner and overnight

Day 2
• Depart for Augrabies Falls National Park
• View the Falls
• Visit Riemvasmaak Hot Springs
• Overnight at Augrabies Falls National Park

Day 3
• After breakfast depart for Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Arrive at the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and enjoy the morning game viewing and picnic lunch
• Overnight in the park and enjoy a traditional South African dinner

Day 4
• Early morning rise and depart for Molopo Kalahari Lodge.
• Enjoy brunch at the Molopo Kalahari Lodge
• Depart for Witsand Nature Reserve
• Arrive at Witsand Nature Reserve and enjoy a short tour of the reserve including a visit to the Roaring Sands.
• Dinner and overnight.

Day 5
• Breakfast
• Depart for Kimberley
• Arrive in Kimberley and visit Wildebeestkuil Rock Art Centre
• Enjoy a light lunch at Lemon Tree Bistro
• Visit to The Big Hole, Kimberley

USD 1 340 per person sharing

J. Adventure tour

Day 1
• Arrive in Upington and depart for the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Lunch at Twee Rivieren Rest Camp and explore the park enroute to !Xaus Eco Lodge
• Experience an African sunset, the sound of silence and touch the stars from the Boma, while marveling at the tastes of the Mier’s unique culinary offerings.
• Overnight at !Xaus Lodge

Day 2
• Spend the morning in the park enjoying the world’s last truly unspoilt ecosystems and bush lunch
• After lunch head back to !Xaus Lodge for a walk in the wild with your Bushmen guides.
• Dinner & overnight at !Xaus Lodge

Day 3
• After breakfast depart via Upington for Kakamas situated 80km southwest of Upington on the N14.
• En-route discover typical Northern Cape dried fruit stalls.
• Arrive at Kakamas for dinner and overnight

Day 4
• Transfer to Khamkirri Private Game Reserve for a wild water encounter – river rafting on the might Orange river
• Enjoy lunch on the banks of the river before transferring to Riemvasmaak Hot Springs
• Return to Khamkirri to experience a sunset over the Orange River and dinner.

Day 5
• Enjoy the morning pursuing ooutdoor activities offered at Khamkirri such as horse riding or fly fishing
• After lunch depart for Augrabies Falls National Park and view the mighty roaring waters
• Dinner and overnight.

Day 6
• Enjoy an early morning walk to view the falls and after breakfast a scenic drive through the park at Augrabies Falls.
• After lunch transfer to Upington
• Enjoy a sunset cruise and dinner on “Sakkie Se Arkie”. On the river

Day 7
• Breakfast
• Enjoy wine tasting at the Orange River Wine Cellars
• After lunch spent the afternoon exploring Upington before departing for late afternoon flight back to Kimberley/Johannesburg or Cape Town.
• Return home

USD 1 660 pp sharing



K. Green Kalahari, Namakwa, Karoo, Kimberley

Day 1
• Arrive in Upington and continue onto Augrabies Falls National Park
• Enjoy lunch at Augrabies Falls and then explore the falls and the park
• Dinner and overnight

Day 2
• Early morning breakfast then embark for Springbok
• Lunch and tour of the flowers
• Overnight and dinenr

Day 3
• Depart for a full day viewing the flowers
• Dinner and overnight at Old Mill Lodge

Day 4
• After breakfast depart for Kimberley
• Overnight and dinner in Kimberley

Day 5
• After breakfast explore the Big Hole and Mine Museum
• Depart for Mokala National Park for game drive, dinner and overnight

Day 6
• After breakfast depart for Kimberley
• Return home

USD 1 400 pp sharing

4. Karoo

The seemingly arid Karoo region quickly transforms itself with the first summer rains into waving fields of grasses with picturesque scenes of grazing sheep and spinning wind pumps. Visitors are enticed by its distinctive Karoo architecture, impressive churches and desolate valleys between flat-topped koppies (hills). 

This region offers visitors the traditional warm hospitality of its people combined with superb hunting, hiking and game watching. The towns of the Karoo towns include the former mission station and largest town of the area, Colesberg famed for its horse breeding and merino sheep farms, Other towns of interest include Hanover, Richmond, Victoria West, Hopetown famous for the largest diamond find in 1868, the world famous 83.5 carat “Star of South Africa”. 

Other towns include De Aar, the third largest town of the Northern Cape and home to Olive Schreiner. Interested in Anglo Boer War then do traverse along the Battlefields route and retrace the steps of the Anglo Boer soldiers and battles across the towns of Loxton, Prieska, Douglas and Carnavon.

Highlights:

Karoo Architecture
An architecture born out of necessity

Khoisan Rock Art
be on the lookout throughout the Karoo Vanderkloof Dam resort, nature reserve and a marvellous engineering feat and great water sports

K, Karoo, Kalahari and Kimberley

Day 1
• Arrive early morning at the Kimberley Airport.
• Visit to The Big Hole, Kimberley - the magnificent era of Diamond Discovery in Kimberley is brought back to life. Take a walk down cobble stoned Memory Lane and relive the 19th Century with its fascinating building. Get bowling in the Skittle Alley and take a chance at searching for diamonds at the famous Diamond Dig. View the Big Hole and enjoy an unforgettable underground experience.
• Enjoy lunch at the Star of the West, one of the oldest pubs in the country
• Depart on a brief City Tour visiting Sol Plaatje House, William Humphreys Art Gallery, McGregor Museum and the Archaeological route
• Enjoy dinner and experience a cultural exchange with the people of Galeshewe

Day 2
• Enjoy an early breakfast and depart for Vanderkloof Dam – This is the second biggest dam with the highest dam wall in South Africa. When the dam is full, it stretches 100km long.
• Arrive at Vanderkloof and enjoy a tour of the dam giving you insight into the history and workings of the dam.
• Visit the hydroelectric power station (one of the only two in the country)
• After lunch visit Rolfontein Nature Reserve – The reserve is home to eland, gemsbok, red hartebeest, Burchell’s zebra, white rhinocerous, kudu, springbok, grey duiker, bat-eared fox, baboon, vervet monkey, aardvark and aardwolf.
• Enjoy a sunset cruise on the dam and dinner and overnight

Day 3
• Early morning breakfast
• Depart for Victoria West and visit a typical Karoo
• Gather around the farm table where a delicious lunch consisting of the local produce will be served.
• Depart for Sutherland – home to the world renowned South African Astronomical Observatory.
• Experience the most magnificent starry skies, relax and enjoy star-gazing.
• Dinner and overnight in Sutherland

Day 4
• Depart for Cape Town by road.

USD 1 150 pp sharing

5. Kalahari

The mystical and sundrenched Kalahari with its endless horizons evokes memories of a land before time and is home to 40 raptor and vulture species (of 67 species in South Africa) and seven owl species (of 12 species nationally) and the awe inspiring black-maned lion. It’s red Kalahari sand dunes also hides a multitude of natural and mineral riches making this the main industrial hub of the Northern Cape. 

The Eye of Kuruman is the largest natural fountain in the Southern hemisphere giving the town of Kuruman the name, the oasis of the Kalahari Kathu, meaning the town under the trees, is home to one of the country’s most beautiful golf courses and the country’s largest iron ore mines. A popular stay over for visitors enroute to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier park is the small town of Vanzylsrus offers warm hospitality and biltong (dried meat) a typical South African delicacy.

Highlights:

The Roaring Kalahari Route
adventure on the backroads of the Kalahari

From Beneath the Surface
gaping holes, mammoth trucks and colossal machinery

The Eye of Kuruman
the largest spring in the southern hemisphere brings relief to the desert

Kalahari Adventure Safari

Day 1
• City tour of Kimberley and Big Hole & Village Museum tour
• Ghost Trail with dinner at Kimberley Club (est. 1881)

Day 2
• Travel to Mokala National Park for lunch and afternoon / evening game drive at Mokala
• Return to Kimberley

Day 3
• Travel to Witsand for Dune Boarding, game drive and walks
• After lunch, visit the Roaring Dunes
• Overnight Witsand

Day 4
• Travel to Khamkirri, Wine tasting along the way
• White Water Rafting
• Dinner on deck over Orange River

Day 5
• Abseiling, horse riding, walks
• Visit to Augrabies falls
• Overnight and dinner in Upington

Day 6
• Depart by 4x4’s to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Game drive, then start the 4x4 trail
• Overnight on the Nossob 4x4 trail - camping
• Dinner around campfire

Day 7
• Continue on guided 4x4 trail
• Regular stops for sightings and veld life interpretations
• Dinner around campfire

Day 8
• Continue on 4x4 trail
• Game drive back to Tweerivieren
• Return to Upington

Day 9
• Return to Kimberley for return flight
• Optional: fly from Upington Airport

USD 1 800 pp sharing

m. Kalahari Photography Tour

Tour accompanied by Photographer – winner of the 2005 Fuji/Getaway Wildlife Photography Awards
– Animal Behaviour
Vehicle camera mounts and bean bags supplied

Day 1
• Arrive at Upington Airport
• Travel to Augrabies Falls National Park
• Dinner and Overnight

Day 2
• Visit to Oranjekom – view of the Orange River gorge
• Visit to Augrabies Water Falls – one of the 6 biggest in the world
• Late afternoon game drive
• Optional: White Water Rafting on the Orange River – 3 hours
• Dinner and overnight

Day 3
• Travel to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and late afternoon game drive
• First night at main restcamp – Tweerivieren

Day 4-11
• Early morning and late afternoon game drives
• Red sand dunes en spectacular light for photography
• Black maned lion, leopard, cheetah and much more
• Overnight in Bush Camps
• 2 nights – Kalahari Tented Camp – luxury en-suite canvas chalets
• 2 nights – Urikaruus
• 2 nights – Grootkolk – far northern part of Kgalagadi – pure wilderness
• 2 nights Kieliekrankie – set on the highest dune in the Park
• all these camps have only a few units in unspoilt wilderness

Day 12
• Travel to Upington
• Transfer to airport

R16,800 pp sharing



m. Kimberley, Kalahari, Karoo

Day 1
• Kimberley’s latest gems, Visit to The Big Hole, Kimberley
• Depart on a brief City Tour visiting Sol Plaatje House, William Humphreys Art Gallery, McGregor Museum and the Archeological route

Day 2
• Enjoy breakfast before departing for Barkly West where you will be met by an expert alluvial digging guide for a tour of the alluvial diggings.
• Enjoy a cruise on the Vaal River on the Riva Chestnut.
• Lunch at the Pump House overlooking the river before visiting the San People at Platfontein
• Travel further to Wildebeestkuil Rock Art Centre
• Return to Kimberley
• Evening activities will include the famous Ghost Tour of Kimberley, visiting the sites known for ghost encounters. Supper and sherry to be enjoyed on the tour

Day 3
• Depart for Kuruman after breakfast
• Lunch at the Red Sands Country Lodge (private game reserve outside Kuruman)
• Kuruman is the Oasis of the Desert where one will find 18 – 20 million litres of water per day flowing out of a spring at “The Eye” of Kuruman. Visit the Moffat Mission where the famous Dr Livingstone proposed to Mary Moffat in “Mary’s Love Garden”.
• Depart for Kathu and enjoy a traditional South African Braai (barbeque)
• Overnight in Kathu

Day 4
• After breakfast enjoy a tour of Sishen Open Cast Iron Ore Mine (one of the biggest in the world). View the mine from two well appointed view sites and an overview of the mine operations.
• After lunch depart for Witsand Nature Reserve
• Visit the famous roaring sands at Witsand (White Sands) Nature Reserve
• Relax and enjoy a pleasant evening at the lapa of the reserve

Day 5
• Breakfast at Witsand Nature Reserve
• Enjoy activities at the Reserve
• Depart for Kimberley

USD 1 090 pp sharing

Terms and conditions for all tours
All tours Include:
• Accommodation on DB&B basis per person sharing
• All travelling by road
• All Guiding & entrance fees, Airport transfers
• Any additional activities and drinks for own account

For bookings and information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our website www.experiencenortherncape.com