Download Dare to visit the Northern Cape

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