The Easter holidays are the perfect time to explore the incredible Northern Cape Province with its wide open spaces, friendly people, rich history and unique cultural diversity. Stretching over 360 000 kilometres from the world-renowned Kalahari Desert in the north to the arid plains of the Karoo in the South, the Northern Cape offers visitors an unforgettable holiday experience.
The diversity of the Northern Cape’s offerings makes it an appealing destination for a wide variety of visitors from students to families, pensioners and adventure hunters. A wide choice of accommodation options is available and current seasonal packages present incredible value for money. Whether visitors want to get closer to nature by camping or pamper themselves in ultimate luxury, the Northern Cape can meet any accommodation demand ranging from five-star hotels, game lodges, guest houses and B&Bs to self-catering and camping facilities.
The province is divided into four regions and boasts a total of six national parks, including two Transfrontier parks crossing into world-famous safari destinations such as Namibia and Botswana as well as six provincial nature reserves, two of the largest rivers in South Africa and three legendary deserts. Each region has a unique appeal in terms of holiday offerings, activities and will capture the imaginations of visitors. The Northern Cape is extremely accessible for visitors with the southern parts being only three hours away from Cape Town and the eastern parts within a four-hour drive from Gauteng. It is also a perfect midway stop-over for travellers en-route to Namibia and Botswana.
Bustling cities like the capital Kimberley and Upington on the banks of the mighty Orange River are also accessible by airports with links to all the major cities in South Africa. Explore the rich mining tradition of the region with a visit to Kimberley’s Diamond District and the Big Hole, the largest man-made excavation on earth. Upington becomes a true oasis for travellers and is the gateway to natural phenomena such as the Augrabies Falls and the Kalahari desert.
Sleepy towns in the Karoo are cultural treasure chests with their distinctive architecture, rich heritage and archaeological representations of ancient indigenous tribes. Visitors can even explore the dramatic grandeur of the galaxy with a tour of the South African Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland.
For nature lovers, the Northern Cape is a treasure chest of outdoor experiences and the current mild autumn weather makes this the ideal time to explore the magic and mysteries of South Africa’s largest province. It is a celebration of adventure encounters and the exploration of the great outdoors. From hiking to mountain-biking, 4×4 trails and eco-adventures to white river rafting, adventure biking, dune surfing, sky-diving, game viewing, bird watching and hunting, outdoor enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice.
Don’t miss the Kimberley Easter Weekend concert featuring award-winning songstress Lira on 21 April or the thrills and spills of extreme motor sport during the Monster Mob from 22-24 April.
For more information, click on www.northerncape.org.za or contact the Northern Cape Tourism Authority on 053 832 2657/832 2643/831 2789.
