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| The Northern Cape
boasts a dazzling history and a variety of cultural attractions. The Northern Cape is
especially well known for its amazing annual floral display that takes place in
Namaqualand in Spring. An utterly beautiful coastline and a number of distinct national
parks offer the traveller a remarkably alternate experience of South Africa. Mining has
always defined the history in the Northern Cape and, when diamonds were discovered in
Kimberley, remarkable advance took place. The last surviving authentic San (Bushman)
people live in the Kalahari area of the Northern Cape. This entire area, in particular
along the Orange and Vaal Rivers, is plenteous in San rock engravings. The Northern Cape
is divided into six contrasting regions and offers a number of highlights ... |
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| The Diamond Fields: During
the world's primary diamond rush, hordes of prospectors converged on the area, scouring
the river banks and probing soil in a frantic exploration for wealth. At times, there were
as many as 30000 diggers labouring all day and far into the night. Although the name
Kimberley evokes images of fame and romance, the diamond heyday was an era of blood,
labour and tears, high stakes and villainous power struggles ... Diamond Fields » |
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| The Kalahari: The
Kalahari desert is part of the huge sand basin that reaches from the Orange River up to
Angola in the west to Namibia and in the east to Zimbabwe. The sand masses were created by
the erosion of soft stone formations. The wind shaped the sand ridges, which are so
typical of the landscape in the Kalahari. Only in recent geological history (10 to 20,000
years ago) were the dunes stabilised ... The Kalahari » |
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| The Green Kalahari: Vast
tracks of bleak, shimmering semi-desert contrast dramatically with lush vineyards filling
the Orange River's fertile valleys. The massive body of water meanders through a giant
valley of its making. Home to the The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The Kgalagadi
Transfrontier Park is situated approximately 250 km from Upington in the far northern Cape
and 904 km from Johannesburg. Africa's first ... The Green Kalahari
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| Namaqualand: 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. During the arid summer months it is difficult to imagine the phenomenon of the
yearly wild flower appearance. After the winter rainfall, Namaqualand dons her coat of
many colours and the wildflowers invade the countryside ... Namaqualand » |
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| Hantam Karoo: Some
250 million years ago the Hantam Karoo was an inland sea, a great lake fringed by cycads
and roamed by mammalian reptiles. Today the fossilised prints of dinosaurs tread a path
across the sun-baked floor. Nature reserves abound with game and birdlife, unusual
vegetation. Attractive Karoo towns lie in one of the largest wool-producing districts in
South Africa. The Calvinia Museum, housed in an old ... Hantam Karoo » |
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| Upper Karoo: Small,
isolated but welcoming villages with fascinating, widely differing histories, distinct
Karoo architecture and imposing churches rest in valleys between desolate, flat-topped
koppies. Throughout the Karoo, you can visit game farms and nature reserves teeming with
wildlife. Colesberg is a quiet Karoo town which serves a thriving horse and sheep stud
district, has retained a few interesting reminders of the past ... Upper Karoo » |
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