Province · Cabo Setentrional

Cabo Setentrional

Northern Cape, the country's largest province: the Namaqualand flowers in spring, the Augrabies Falls, the Kgalagadi and Kimberley's Big Hole.

In the photo: Orange River Gorge, Augrabies

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Cabo Setentrional

Northern Cape is the largest and least populated province of South Africa. It occupies the northwest of the country, between the Orange River, Namibia and Botswana, with deserts, semi-deserts, clear skies and long distances between towns.

In the west, Namaqualand usually becomes carpeted with wildflowers from August to September, after the winter rains, in one of the country's best-known natural spectacles; Springbok is the base town, and Namaqua National Park, near Kamieskroon, is one of the most popular spots. The bloom varies each year depending on the rainfall.

On the Orange River, Augrabies Falls plunge into a granite canyon in a national park near Upington. Further north, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, shared with Botswana, features red dunes and Kalahari lions. The Richtersveld and the ǂKhomani cultural landscape, linked to the San peoples, are World Heritage sites.

The capital, Kimberley, grew with the 19th-century diamond rush, and the Big Hole, a huge hand-dug pit, can be seen from a viewing platform. In Sutherland, in the Karoo, telescopes at the South African observatory take advantage of some of the country's darkest skies.

When to go

The Namaqualand flowers usually appear from August to September. From April to September desert days are generally mild, with cold nights. From November to March it is very hot, especially in the Kgalagadi and in Upington. Northern Cape is 5 hours ahead of Brasília.

Getting there

Kimberley (KIM) and Upington (UTN) have airports with flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town. For Namaqualand, the most common route is by car from Cape Town, about 5 to 6 hours to Springbok. Distances in the province are long, and a car is the most practical way to travel.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Cabo Setentrional

When to see the Namaqualand flowers?

The bloom usually runs from August to September and changes each year depending on winter rainfall. The flowers open in sunshine, around midday.

How to get from Cape Town to Namaqualand?

By car, about 5 to 6 hours to Springbok, via the N7 road.

What is Kimberley's Big Hole?

A huge hand-dug pit from the 19th-century diamond rush, viewed from a platform beside a museum.

Do you need a car in Northern Cape?

Yes. Distances are long and public transport is limited; driving is on the left.

Tap a province to see its destinations. Limites: South African Municipal Demarcation Board / OCHA ROSEA / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.