 Provincial Capital: Kimberley
South Africa's biggest province, Northern Cape is a corridor province for those driving from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
Home to the San people, a hunter-gatherer tribe known for their rock art, their extraordinary ability to subsist in a barren environment and live in perfect harmony with nature.
The northern part of the province is Kalahari thirst land, it's not a desert but there isn't much life here and almost no standing water.
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park which is inhabited by game and enormous black-maned lions and the graceful gemsbok or oryx. The north western region, with its green agricultural belt flanking the Orange River near the Atlantic ocean creates a lush contrast to the ruggedness of the Richtersveld.
Botanically interesting area Richtersveld has hundreds of varieties of flowering plants, its saw toothed mountain peaks wind sculpted boulders and colorful flora have a unique beauty found nowhere in earth.
The Orange River which forms the Augrabies Falls is a veritable oasis in this dry land. Tender young grapes grow sweet in the sun and dates palm sway in the breeze.The Orange River wine route near Upington, concentrates mostly on fortified dessert wines.
Tourist Attractions in Northern Cape Province
The Big Hole: Found inside the Kimberly Mine museum, the largest human made hole in the world, dug during the biggest diamond rush in history. The largest uncut diamond ever found is on display in the living museum, which is a reconstruction of the 19th century mining town - the only town in South Africa that still has a running tram.
Augrabies Falls National Park: The main attraction to the park is the falls plummeting 90m down a series of granite cataracts. The name Augrabies is derived from khoi word, which means 'place of great noise'. The rest of the area is made up of molded rock formations and semi desert landscape. This area offers some good hiking trails and exciting whitewater rafting.
Namaqualand: Area stretching from north and west from Cape Town with its own rather minimalist aesthetic. A full bloom during the flowering season during August and September the whole area is a mass of color as far as the eye can see.
From year to year the flowering season changes and so it is best to check before heading off. The sky is open and the distance hills and open rocks create their own awesome spectacle.
Richtersveld: Far northwest of the country remote and incredibly hot and dry. Though a dry place this is one of the most botanically interesting areas with hundreds of species of flowering plants.
The only standing water is Orange River or the Gariep River. The best way to see is on a guided river trip on Orange River. Hiking trails are for the rugged only as it is very rough and rocky.
The San: The first people of Northern Cape who were slowly pushed out by the arrival of the Europeans and other African tribes. The last of the few San people live in the Kalahari area of Northern Cape. The areas between Orange and Vaal rivers are rich in San rock engravings. This province is rich in fossils.
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