Kakamas, Green Kalahari
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 and Lucerne fields.
Legend has it that grazing in the vicinity was poor and, when cattle were driven through the river's drifts, some consistently turned on their drivers. To others, the town's name originates from the Khoi word, "gagamas" (brown), referring to the red clay of the area with which women smear their faces. This lovely town was built on the sheer hard work and determination of a few impoverished stock farmers at the end of the 19th century.
In 1897, the Dutch Reformed Church started a colony on the farms Soetap and Kakamas on the banks of the gorgeous Orange River for white people who had lost everything as a result of the drought. Each farmer helped build an irrigation project, and was rewarded with a plot of land irrigated by the resulting canals and tunnels. Despite the criticism they received from qualified engineers about their building methods, the farmers continued to construct the water canals by hand.
Today, they are still used to supply the town and surrounding areas with water for irrigation. Two tunnels of 3-4m high, 2,5m wide and 97m and 172m long, were dug by hand as part of the canal building project and were completed in 1911. Many of these fascinating tunnels can be explored by visitors.
Other interesting artefacts that can be explored by visitors include a Hydro-electrical power station, an Obelisk, Riemvasmaak Hot Springs, German War Graves and ancient Operating Waterwheels. The Hydro-electrical power station was designed to look like an Egyptian temple. It was completed in 1914 and accommodated the first hydro - electric power station in South Africa. The Obelisk was erected in 1998 to commemorate the graves of over 150 coloured and black people who were removed from this area in 1986.
Riemvasmaak Hot Springs is a must for all visitors! It is situated in a deep ravine surrounded by undulating hills dotted with wild fig and quiver trees. Superb accommodation is available and there are plenty of fun and exciting activities for all including hiking and 4x4 trails.
The hot and dry climate at Kakamas as well as the perfectly fertile soil irrigated by the Orange River is ideal for soft fruits. All fields are irrigated from the series of primitive canals, driven by ancient water wheels. Interestingly, one single Kakamas peach tree is the progenitor of 3 quarters of all the trees supplying the South African peach canning industry! Kakamas is a lovely community boasting an expanse of inviting fruit farms, lovely weather as well as a rich cultural heritage. There is plenty to explore and enjoy here!
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Kakamas Hotel
Kakamas Hotel is situated near Augrabies Falls, on the outskirts of Kakamas with a beautiful farm setting - overlooking the splendid vineyard of ...
Palmhof Chalets
Palmhof Chalets welcomes you to the Orange River Valley in Kakamas, where vineyards, palm trees and citrus surround the area, the contrast route;...
Kalahari Gateway Hotel
Kalahari Gateway Hotel in Kakamas is a modern hotel that offers luxury and outstanding service en route to the Namaqualand and 40km from the Augr...
Khamkirri Camping
Khamkirri Camping is located along the banks of the Orange River in Kakamas, Northern Cape. The camp is a family orientated destination where chi...
De Werf Lodge
Located in the heart of the beautiful Northern Cape, De Werf Lodge offers accommodation near Upington and Kakamas. De Werf Lodge is a beautiful e...
Things to do in the area
Die Pienk Padstal
Die Pink Padstal is a landmark roadside stall situated in Kakamas, half way between the towns of Pofadder and Upington. Stop off to stock up on "...
Dine at Vergelegen
Dine in our intimate a le carte restaurant which had numerous write-ups. Dine at the fireplace or outside on the patio and enjoy a sundowner and ...
Desert Raisins Farm Stall
The Desert Raisins Farm Stall is ideally visited in the summer months when this quaint hilltop farm stall has an abundance of stock including gra...
Riemvasmaak Hot Springs
Riemvasmaak is close to the Namibian border, secluded between the mighty Orange River and the Molopo River (which has dried up). It covers a mass...
Riemvasmaak MTB Route
Riemvasmaak Community Conservancy offers 7500 hectares of mountain biking bliss. This phenominal area has 3 varied 4x4 trails as well as a dedica...
Riemvasmaak 4x4 Trails
The Riemvasmaak 4x4 Trails are exquisitely adventurous, showcasing some of the arid beauty of the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, complem...
Khamkirri MTB Trails
Where: Khamkirri River Camp, near Kakamas in the Green Kalahari section of the Northern CapeLevel: easy to difficultType of route: varied; betwee...
Riverside Kitchen & Restaurant
Khamkirri is all about celebrating the outdoors and creating a beautiful place for families to be together along the Orange River. So, it’s no su...
Noteworthy attractions
Augrabies Falls National Park
The Khoi people called it 'Aukoerebis', the place of the Great Noise, referring to the Orange River thundering its way downwards for 60 metres in...
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 ...
Witsand Nature Reserve
The Witsand (White Sands) Nature Reserve is a 2 500 hectares island of brilliant white sands surrounded by a sea of regular Red Kalahari sand. Al...
Upington Golf Club
Situated just outside of Upington on the N14 road to Johannesburg and Olifantshoek, next to Desert Palace Casino, is the Upington Golf Course. Th...
Orange River Wine Route
In a part of South Africa that is, for all intents and purposes, practically desert, one does not expect to find a wine route. But the Orange Riv...
Northern Cape Wine Estates
With a completely different climate to the Cape Winelands, the Northern Cape produces a number of ranges of wines that boast unique flavours. The...
Riemvasmaak Community Conservancy
North west of the town of Kakamas and bordering the Augrabies National Park is the Riemvasmaak Community Conservancy - 75 00 hectares of land bet...
Hakskeen Pan
Hakskeen Pan is a dry lake bed, and the world's largest unworked saltpan. It lies way up in the far north west of the Northern Cape, 300 km from ...
Kokerboom Food and Wine Route
The Kokerboom, or quiver tree, is one of the most idiosyncratic trees of the Kalahari (South Africa and Namibia). Also known, in scientific circl...
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