From the red dunes of the Kalahari to Kimberley’s Big Hole, this province undoubtedly offers every visitor an experience. Take a trip to the Northern Cape and explore its culture, natural features and numerous tourist destinations. These are the top ten places you must visit in the Northern Cape.

1. Augrabies Falls National Park

Located approximately 120km from Upington, this 51430 ha conservation area is South Africa’s answer to the Niagara Falls. Visitors to the Augrabies Falls will be left in awe of the water thundering down the gorge. Tourist attractions and activities in the area include mountain bike, nature and hiking trails, 4x4 routes as well as game drives. Additionally the Augrabies Falls National Park is home to numerous wild and bird life.

2. Namaqualand

The Namaqualand region is dry and arid for most of the year however tourists from far and wide have been known to descend upon this biodiversity hotspot between July and October after the winter rainfall. Following the winter rain, this barren land becomes a land of beauty as carpets of flowers appear.

3. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Known widely as the “Place of Thirst” temperatures at the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park can rise above 40°C in summer and drop to below freezing in winter. The park which spans over 3.6 million hectares is Africa’s largest game reserve. With its beautiful red sands and black maned Kalahari Lions it is not hard to see while this is one of the Northern Cape’s most popular tourist destinations.

4. The Big Hole

Once a flat topped hill, Kimberley’s biggest asses is now an open cast mine which has seen over 2722kg of diamonds being excavated since digging began in 1871. The Big Hole offers tourists an insight into the life of early miners as well as the chance to view the world’s largest display of diamonds.

5. Wonderwerk Cave

Situated between Danielskuil and Kuruman, these caves stretching 139km contain a wealth of human and environmental history dating back several hundreds of thousands of years. Legend has it that the Wonderwerk Cave is so large that a fully in-spanned ox-wagon could be turned in its entrance. Well-preserved specimens of flora, finger paintings on the walls and rock art can be found in the cave.

6. Riemvasmaak Hot Springs

Riemvasmaak is situated to the north of Augrabies Falls and offers magnificent views of the large cliffs surrounding the area, as well as indigenous fauna and flora. The springs were originally a product of volcanic eruptions and while these have ceased, underground activity still heats the waters of these springs

7. Goegap Nature Reserve

The Goegap Nature Reserve, located 15km from Springbok, is home to 45 mammal species, 94 bird species and over 600 plant species. The area is a splendour during flower season when a combination of when the region gets rain and the temperature variations determines what flowers the veld produces each year.

8. Verneukpan

The Verneukpan is a dry salt pan to the south of Kenhardt. Its flat surface with minimal vegetation is estimated to be 57 km long and 11 km wide. The area is most famous for land speed record attempts including Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 1929 failed attempt at raising the land speed record. This area is also an ideal location for feature films.

9. Boesmansgat Sinkhole

This natural sinkhole can be found on the Mount Carmel Farm about 55km south of Kuruman. It was formed by underground water dissolving the dolomite rocks above and is almost completely filled with fresh water with the 100m diameter surface pond often covered in duckweed. It is estimated to be 270m deep, making it one of the deepest fresh water caves in the world.

10. Spitskop Nature Reserve

This 5641 ha nature reserve, located 13 km north of Upington, is home to wildlife including gemsbok, springbok, zebra, eland, steenbok, wildebeest, camel, suricate and ostrich in addition to a variety of birdlife. The Spitskop Nature Reserve also offers its visitors hiking, birdwatching, game viewing and hunting opportunities.

Images sourced from southafrica.net