Northern Cape Province, South Africa - Self Drive Tour of Major Sites

With a land area of over 360,000 square km, the Northern Cape is the largest province in South Africa. However it's sparsely populated, with a population of just over 1 million people. Founded in 1994, the region is one of three provinces that were formed as a result of the dissection of the old Cape Province. Its capital is Kimberley and the Orange River flows through the region. A great way to see the area is by hiring a car and taking a self drive tour.

When driving in the Northern Cape Province it's worth remembering the huge distances between the main towns and cities. For this reason a good knowledge of the road network is necessary when you pick up your car hire.

The Northern Cape Province is dominated by the Karoo (semi desert) landscape. South of the province is mainly mountainous, and the west coast is largely dominated by the Namaqualand area, which is a famous botanic region noted for its beautiful spring flowers. The province's most famous resource is diamonds. There has been extensive harvesting of diamonds in the Kimberley and Alexander Bay areas since the 19th century. The north of the province is part of the Kalahari Desert, the western part borders the Atlantic Ocean and the main towns in the region are Kimberley, Colesberg, Upington and Springbok.

Kimberley is the capital city of the province and is also the best place to start off on a self-drive tour of the Northern Cape.

Kimberley is located on the N12 route in the centre of South Africa. To get to Kimberley, take the N12, which takes you from Cape Town via the N1 in the south, and Pretoria and Johannesburg in the north. You could also take the N8 road from the east or west to Kimberley.

Kimberley has a rich history, mostly to do with its natural resource, diamonds, and their manufacturing. In 1871, diamond deposits found on a small hill on a farm owned by the De Beers brothers led to a huge scramble for diamonds. This was at the colossal Kimberley Hole, the largest man made hole in the world. Today it's a thriving, prosperous town with outstanding Victorian architecture. Top attractions here include the Kimberley Mine Museum, the Big Hole, and the Bultfontein Mine.

Around Kimberley, you could take a trip to Modder River, which is located about 39km on the N12 South West. It lies at the joining of the Riet and Modder Rivers. There are three monuments in the town in remembrance of the Battle of Modder River, which took place during the Boer War.

You could also take a trip to Barkly West, which has a number of museums related to diamond mining and exploration, including the Barkly Bridge and Barkly West Museum. To get to this village, take the R31 north west from Kimberley, for approximately 30km.

The N12 Battlefield Route, through the diamond fields of the Northern Cape, stretches from Kimberley to Hopetown. It was opened in 1998.

Springbok is another town worth a visit. It's located 550 km north of Cape Town on the N7 and on the N14 if you're travelling from Johannesburg. Its origins are again steeped in the diamond trade. Springbok is the capital of the Namaqualand region, and is the last main town on the road from Cape Town to the Namibian border.

Goegap Nature Reserve lies 15km south-east of Springbok in the Namaqualand area, and is well worth a visit. This reserve features the natural riches of the region, supporting 600 indigenous flower species, 45 mammal species and 94 bird species, and has limited accommodation available.

Colesberg is the largest Northern Cape Town on the N1 and is located 280km south of Kimberley and over 600km from Johannesburg. It's a good stop off point on the main Cape Town to Johannesburg route, and has plenty to do and see. You can take a trip to the many museums, which commemorate the Boer War, and enjoy the stunning Karoo architecture that is a feature of the town. Colesberg is connected to Port Elizabeth via the N10, which links the Garden Route and Johannesburg. Taking the N1 East from Colesberg will take you to the wonderful Gariep Dam Nature Reserve.

If you're travelling from Springbok to Johannesburg, on the N14 route, a visit to Augrabies Falls National Park is a must. You will be astounded by the magnificence of the river gorges and waterfalls. Travelling along the N14 from the National Park, you will reach Upington, which is bound by the Orange River and the Kalahari Desert. It's the principal town and commercial centre of the Green Kalahari area, and the vibrancy of the region is due to the irrigated lands that lie alongside the Orange River.

While in Upington, why not take a visit to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari Desert? The park is home to wonderfully different species of animals, in a dry arid climate, with accommodation and guided tours available. Situated along the N14, some of the park is located in neighbouring Botswana, and is well worth exploring. Further North from Upington lies the Spitskop Nature Reserve, a small game reserve, stocked with gemsbok, zebra, springbok, ostriches and mountain zebra.

About the Author

Mairead Foley writes for http://www.Novacarhire.com/ where you can book car hire at airports, ferry ports, rail stations, cities and towns all over the world.