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DARE TO EXPERIENCE THE NORTHERN CAPE Stretching over 360 000 kilometres from the world-renowned Kalahari Desert in the north to the arid plains of the Karoo in the South, the Northern Cape Province of South Africa offers visitors an unforgettable holiday experience. Characterised by its open spaces, friendly people, rich history and unique cultural diversity, this land of extremes promises an unparalleled tourism destination of extreme nature, extreme culture and extreme adventure for those who dare to experience it. For nature lovers, the Northern Cape is a treasure chest of outdoor experiences. Visitors are invited to experience the magic and mystery of this uniquely appealing tourism destination. EXTREME NATURE The Northern Cape promises to enchant visitors with its incredible natural beauty and versatility. It is a celebration of adventure encounters and the exploration of the great outdoors, while graciously hospitable with hundreds of accommodation options available to visitors ranging from five-star hotels, game lodges, guest houses and B&Bs to self-catering and camping facilities. Guests are invited to experience the magic and mystery that lies at the essence of this uniquely appealing tourism destination. The province is divided into four 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. The Northern Cape offers visitors a kaleidoscope of scenic vistas ranging from the vast contrasts of the Green Kalahari to the stark impressive natural wonder of the majestic Augrabies Falls and Africa’s first Transfrontier Park, the Kgalagadi with its almost 3.7 million hectares of sparsely vegetated, red sand dunes and dry riverbeds and is home to vast herds of gemsbok, springbok, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland as well as lion, leopard, cheetah and smaller game. From the seemingly arid Karoo region with its distinctive Karoo architecture, impressive churches and desolate valleys between flat-topped koppies (hills) to the flamboyancy of the Namakwaland floral splendour and the proud mining tradition of the Kimberley diamond region, the Northern Cape will entice guests with unforgettable images of nature at its most expansive. EXTREME CULTURE The province’s magnifying appeal is steeped in its rich archaeological heritage tracing ancient tribes like the San (Bushmen), Nama and Griqua and continues to pay homage to its culturally diverse history. The history of this region is deeply rooted in a proud mining tradition and the Old Copper Way presents visitors with the chance to follow in the footsteps of explorers of yesteryear. The landscape is uniquely suited for rugged 4x4 adventure trips with the AisAis/Richtersveld Transfortier Park a must-see destination. At Sutherland in the south, fans of astronomy will find the best stargazing on earth at the South African Astronomical Observatory where visitors can book tours to experience the dramatic grandeur of the galaxy. Kimberley is often referred to as the city that sparkles and is both the capital of the Northern Cape and the heart of the Diamond Fields region. The diamond city was the location for the infamous diamond rush in 1866 and one of the greatest sieges of the Anglo-Boer wars. Today, the incredible Big Hole remains the largest hand-dug excavation in the world and recalls those early days of diamond diggers, which has contributed to South Africa being ranked as one of the top diamond production countries in the world. EXTREME ADVENTURE Adrenaline junkies, adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts are spoilt for choice with activities ranging from rock climbing to white river rafting, 4x4 trails, adventure motor-biking, paragliding and fly-fishing. The Northern Cape is set to firmly establish itself on the international map as a premier adventure sports destination and started their repositioning when it hosted the Maloof Money Cup, the richest skateboarding competition in the world, earlier this year. It was the first time in the history of the competition that it took place outside of American borders and hosted on the African continent. The province is also playing an integral part in the global BLOODHOUND Project, which is an international education initiative focused around a 1000mph Land Speed Record attempt. The Northern Cape made a short list of 35 potential desert sites for this astonishing attempt with both Hakskeenpan validating site visits from the project organisers. For more information, visit the Northern Cape Tourism Authority stand at INDABA or click to www.northerncape.org.za. For enquiries, e-mail [email protected]. ENDS Issued by PERIDOT COMMUNICATIONS On behalf of NORTHERN CAPE TOURISM AUTHORITY