The Northern Cape is South Africa's largest province and a must-see destination, whether you prefer the ocean, the desert, the bush or quirky towns rich in history and culture
The Namaqua National Park is 495km from Cape Town – about a 6-hour drive. The best time is spring (late August to the end of September), when you can see the mass flower display. Autumn (March/April) is the best time to see the flowering of the March lilies and other bulb species in Nieuwoudtville.
The vast Northern Cape, the largest and most dispersed of South Africa’s provinces, is not an easy region to tackle as a visitor. From the lonely Atlantic coast to Kimberley, the provincial capital on its eastern border with the Free State, it covers over one-third of the nation’s landmass, an area dominated by heat, aridity, empty spaces and huge travelling distances. The miracles of the desert are the main attraction – improbable swaths of flowers, diamonds dug from the dirt and wild animals roaming the dunes
Areas of interest
