Top 5 Must-Do’s in the Northern Cape

September is Tourism Month and what better way to celebrate than by taking road trip around the Northern Cape? From the rolling hills of the Karoo to the rugged coastline of the Atlantic Ocean, the province offers unique and unforgettable experiences.

Here are Top 5 tourism attractions for your bucket list:

1. Kimberley’s Big Hole

The Big Hole in Kimberley is considered for one of the deepest cavities excavated by man with a depth of 200 m2. Next to the Big Hole is the Kimberley Mine Museum, the first ever discovery of diamond reserves in the country. One of the most interesting facts about the Big Hole in Kimberley is that after the mining operations were finally over, the Big Hole become the most visited tourist attraction in Kimberley.

2. Augrabies Waterfall

The Khoi people called it “Aukoerebis”, or place of Great Noise, as this powerful flow of water is unleashed from rocky surroundings characterised by the 18km abyss of the Orange River Gorge. Augrabies Falls National Park came into existence in 1966. Just as its name suggests, the national park includes a massive water fall which is a popular tourist spot. It falls over a height of 90 m high with a 56m free-fall. It is said to be one of the five greatest on the planet.

3. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Where the red dunes and scrub fade into infinity and herds of gemsbok, springbok, eland and blue wildebeest follow the seasons, where imposing camel thorn trees provide shade for huge black-mane lions and vantage points for leopard and many raptors… this is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

4. Southern Africa Large Telescope

The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere, and one of the largest in the world. Situated in Sutherland, in the Northern Cape, the telescope enables spectroscopic and polarimetric analysis and imaging of the radiation from astronomical objects that are out of reach of northern hemisphere telescopes. There are daily guided tours to the Observatory, 18 km out of town consisting of displays in the visitors centre followed by taking a look at the inside of the majestic SALT telescope.

5. Namaqualand

Famed for its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, its wild flowers during spring, its wealth of minerals, and cultural history, Namaqualand is a popular region for international and local tourists. The Namakwa coastline and the banks of the Orange River are popular for their hiking trails and off-roading routes.