Escaping to the Northern Cape: Our road-trip ideas
Going north in our road-trip exploration, we take you to explore the often overlooked Northern Cape. The Northern Cape is known for its vast open spaces and blistering sunshine. With so much to offer, there’s nothing quite like road-tripping through the barren lands of the Northern Cape.
These are our top Northern Cape breakaways:
1. En route to the Augrabies Falls- A strange paradise.
If you haven’t been here, this is definitely one for the bucket list. There are few sounds as impressive and thundering as the orange river falling down a 50+ meter granite ravine. This national park is a mere 1.5 hours drive from Upington and about 7 hours drive from Kimberley- which is quite a drive, but definitely worth it. There are activities such as game viewing, mountain biking, bird watching and also river rafting on the Orange River which is always a popular attraction.
2. En route to Namaqualand- The wonders of flora.
This is definitely a sight worth seeing. Extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the small town of Pofadder in the east, north from the great Orange River and south beyond Garies, Namaqualand is indeed a vast and varied region. After the winter rainfall, Namaqualand harvests a floral coat of many colours and only for a brief moment. Countless poems, novels, paintings and prose have been dedicated to this annual shower of wild flowers over the dry land area.
3. En route to the Orange River Wine Route- Tasting dessert wine in the desert.
Just because you are in the desert area, doesn’t mean you have to dehydrate. If you indeed decided to go to the Augrabies Falls, stop by at the Orange River Wine Route. You won’t regret it! Set on the banks of the Orange River, the Orange River Wine Route is one of the most unlikely wine routes. It stretches 350km along the Orange River, Orange River Wine Cellars offer an extensive range of dry wines, dessert wines and naturally sweet wines. I have tasted some of the wines they produce there, and let me tell you, they aren’t messing around!
4. En route to Riemvasmaak Hot Springs- No one will find you there!
If you feel like escaping, literally getting away so far that you only hear the call of the eagle then this is the place for you. Between the Orange and dry Molopo Rivers, lies 75 000 hectares of sheer mountain desert wilderness born from violent volcanic activity millions of years ago but with a beauty that takes on spiritual proportions. Here you can set your soul free while bathing in the hot springs in the middle of the desert. You will also be dwarfed by eighty metre high granite cliff walls and breathtaking lunar scenery.
5. En route to Port Nolloth- Where the desert meets the seaside.
If you hit the N7 (West Coast Road) all the way to Port Nolloth, you will discover a charming seaside village, reminding you of all the other ones along the West Coast. There you can enjoy the wonders of the seaside town together with some safari activities.
We also love the Western Cape for a road trip. Or see what our local celebs have to say about road trips.