Green Kalahari Attractions and Destinations | Attractions and Places of Special Interest in the Green Kalahari, the Northern Cape

Green Kalahari Attractions

Northern Cape, South Africa

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Northern Cape

THE GREEN KALAHARI

Green Kalahari: The Green Kalahari is a world full of wonders and contrasts. Here is where the lush green vineyards stand proud in the valley bearing magical fruits not far from where the shimmering Orange River thunders into a deep granite gorge to create the mighty Augrabies Falls. It’s a land of genuine natural beauty where the lions and the leopard, cheetah, gemsbok, springbok, and hyena roam free through beckoning bushman grass, camel thorn and shepherd trees. As you enter this land, you will soon understand and come to appreciate the land we call the Green Kalahari. Interestingly, The Green Kalahari boasts the best of both worlds: unspoiled semi-desert against the lush vineyards that fill the fertile valleys of the Orange River. This massive body of water makes its way through this harsh and dry landscape bringing life to the region and an oasis to locals and animals alike.
GREEN KALAHARI DESTINATIONS
Upington
Augrabies
Askham
Danielskuil
Groblershoop
Kakamas
Kanoneiland
Keimoes
Kenhardt
Mier / Olifantshoek
Postmasburg
GREEN KALAHARI ATTRACTIONS
Augrabies Falls National Park
Kgalagadi National Park
Spitskop Nature Reserve
Green Kalahari
The history of the Southern Kalahari blends with the history of the people. The San (also known as the Bushmen) are Southern Africa’s original inhabitants. Many years ago, these hunter-gatherer people roamed the plains of the Southern Kalahari managing to live happily in these harsh landscapes. Today, there are only a few San people living near the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. Their ancestors have left behind many unique attractions detailing their lives and hunting antics. These include the remains of permanent settlements on the farm Bitterputs in the Verneuk Pan near the town Kenhardt as well as many fascinating cave drawings and engravings.

Other historical attractions include Schröder’s and other old mission churches, his original home, the first water-driven mill, hand-built irrigation tunnels, waterwheels, an Egyptian-styled hydro power transformer station, a historical camel thorn tree under which the first town in the region was found, war graves as well as a date palm avenue in Upington. The Green Kalahari is a word that provokes both the traveller’s imagination and emotions. It’s a completely different world boasting huge vistas, climatic extremes and fascinating adaptations to harsh conditions. Nowhere else in South Africa is the build-up of a thunderstorm as beautiful and dramatic.

Life in the green Kalahari is not only provided by the rare and strange plants, animal life or vineyards but also comes in a package full of sunlit travel delights. These include camel back trips, thrilling white water rafting, parasailing on the many pans in the region, as well as a spectacular afternoon microlight glides above the undulating red dunes and jagged mountains of Riemvasmaak and the Mier Kalahari with its 35 to 40 meters high sand dunes. There is plenty to do and see here and something for all different tastes. For the less adventurous traveller one can explore the abundance of hiking trails or enjoy canoeing, mountain biking, bird watching, game drives in the national and many exquisite private game reserves, camping and fly-in safaris.
Northern Cape

GREEN KALAHARI - DESTINATIONS

Upington: Upington is the chief city in the Northern Region of South Africa. This dry and hot area is characterised by desolate deserts and harsh landscapes. However, do not let that deter you. Upington boasts a marvellous oasis: the fertile and lush Orange River valley which runs through it. This ... more about » Upington Info
Augrabies: The little town of Augrabies that lies on the banks of the Orange River has been totally overshadowed by the Augrabies Falls National Park. Not only does it lie on the border of the park with which people assume it is synonymous, but very few people know that a town on the edge of the park that ... more about » Augrabies Info
ASKHAM
Askham: When travelling from Upington and making your way to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, you will come across the little town of Askham. Askham is situated just 73 km from the park entrance at Twee Rivieren. Askham originally developed around the school which has a boarding house built in ... more about » Askham
DANIELSKUIL
Danielskuil: Danielskuil is a rather quiet little town situated in the Northern Cape in South Africa. Fantastic fertile soil and an abundance of water saw to it that man dwelled in the Daniëlskuil area since prehistoric times. According to tradition, the name of the town is derived from a natural pit, named ... more about » Danielskuil
GROBLERSHOOP
Groblershoop: Situated in a land of contrasts, at the gateway to the Green Kalahari you will find the little village of Groblershoop. Imagine arid, undulating hills penetrated by the shimmering Orange River valley creating a green strip right through and providing life to its surroundings. The successful stock ... more about » Groblershoop
Kakamas: Kakamas is a rather small town situated in the Northern Cape of South Africa. This interesting town was originally built by a church and named after the Khoi word for 'poor pasture'. Today, this name poorly reflects on a fertile valley in the lower Orange River, graced with vineyards, cotton ... more about » Kakamas Info
KANONEILAND
Kanoneiland: A settlement on the largest inhabited inland island in South Africa. Virtually every inch of soil is under irrigation. A leisurely drive through the vineyards and lucerne fields is recommended. Groups of 20 or more can enjoy a special spit-roasted sheep, together with home-baked bread ... more about » Kanoneiland
KEIMOS
Keimos: This attractive little village in the green Orange River Valley occupies a major agricultural region. Giant waterwheels are still in operation. The Tierberg Nature Garden is notable for prodigious numbers of aloes and a panoramic view of the Keimoes Valley. Wine tasting and tours ... more about » Keimos
KENHARDT
Kenhardt: The Kenhardt landscape is arid but also characterised by a luscious green belt fed by the gorgeous Hartbees River and by irrigation water from the Rooiberg Dam. This arid land boasts a fascination of its own, the tedium of brown sand being broken only by black dolerite boulders ... more about » Kenhardt
MIER
Mier: Meir is a municipality bigger than the Free State Province. This beautiful area includes the communities of Rietfontein, Philandersbron, Loubos, Klein Mier, Groot Mier, Welkom, Askham and Noenieput. Mier is situated adjacent to one of the world’s largest conservation areas, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park » Mier
OLIFANTSHOEK
Olifantshoek: One of Olifantshoek’s many natural wonders is the roaring sands. The white granular dunes of the Witsand Nature Reserve are over 100 m high and 10 km long. When disturbed by wind in hot, dry weather, these dunes emit strange roaring sounds. The white colour of the sands is ... » Olifantshoek
POSTMASBURG
Postmasburg: Postmasburg boasts spectacular architecture and many historical sites. An old blue dolomite stone Reformed Church built in 1908 can be visited. The Reverend Dirk Postma Statue is found nearby. There is also a rather impressive gun known as “Howitzer Gun” which stands at the ... » Postmasburg
Northern Cape

GREEN KALAHARI - ATTRACTIONS

AUGRABIES FALLS NATIONAL PARK Accommodation in Augrabies
Augrabies Falls National Park: Within the Augrabies Falls National Park the Orange River is at its most impressive as it thunders its way through a ravine and into a pool walled by sheer granite. The 28,000 ha on both the northern and southern sides of the river provide sanctuary to a diversity of species, from ... Augrabies National Park

Kalahari National Park / Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Go to » Kalahari National Park / Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park stretching into Botswana comprises two million-hectares of sparsely vegetated, red sand dunes and dry riverbeds. Honey Badger, Pangolin and Bat-eared Fox are some of the park specials, but the predators ... More >

Spitskop Nature Reserve

Go to » Spitskop Nature Reserve: The Spitskop Nature Reserve was named after Spitskop, an impressive granite koppie just outside the small town of Upington. Consisting mainly of sandy flats interrupted by two rocky outcrops, the reserve is worth a visit not only for its game, but also for the dazzling plains ... More >

RICHTERSVELD CULTURAL AND BOTANICAL LANDSCAPE (World Heritage Site)

Recently inscribed as the eighth World Heritage Site in South Africa, the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape is a remarkable mountainous desert in the north-west of the country that is uniquely owned and managed by the Nama community, descendents of the Khoi-Khoi ... Richtersveld Cultural & Botanical Landscape

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Namaqualand Flower Tours
Augrabies Falls National Park (Black Rhino Adventure)
Camel Safaris
Richtersveld Tours
Crayfish Diving
Diamonds and Diggings
Diamond Tour
Kimberley Tours
Orange River Canoe Expeditions
Namaqualand and Richtersveld
Richtersveld Challenge (a five-day 4x4 expedition or combination vehicle and hiking tour)
Richtersveld/Namaqualand Tours Specialised, tailor-made tours, botanical and photographic tours, and hunting safaris can be arranged
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Northern Cape Game & Nature Reserves Map

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Green Kalahari Attractions and Destinations | Attractions and Places of Special Interest in the Green Kalahari, the Northern Cape

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