The Wildebeest - all about South Africa - towns, places of interest, animals and plants

The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

Northern Cape Province

Afrikaans name: Noord-Kaap provinsie

The Northern Cape is a sparsely populated area that is a great place to escape city life. It is South Africa’s largest province, being larger than Germany, but it is also the least populated. This is a province of extremes, with a long coast line and very arid areas yet every year the Namaqualand region is carpeted by wild flowers attracting tourists from around the world. To go on a tour during the spring flowering season should be on every visitor’s wish list.

The North West province is also home to the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park which forms part of the extensive Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park shared with Botswana. This huge and beautiful, but arid, game reserve offers tourists the chance to see some of South Africa’s most interesting wildlife. These include Lion, Cheetah, Gemsbok, Springbok and much, much more.

Birders will also be amazed at the variety of birds, and raptors in particular, that they will see. Other scenic attractions include the Augrabies Falls, Augrabies Falls National Park, Richtersveld, Eye of Kuruman and Wonderwerk Caves. A popular activity is rafting or canoeing down a stretch of the Orange River. The West Coast has a number of quaint fishing villages and fishing and birding are popular in these areas.

Capital City:	Kimberley
Area:	372,889 square kilometres
Population:	1,145,861 (in 2011)

Northern Cape Province

Afrikaans name: Noord-Kaap provinsie

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