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Travel advice for South Africa
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to South Africa
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 25.10.2021
South Africa’s giant Northern Cape is a wild and sun-seared landscape of rugged lava mountains, rolling red desert, sandy plains – and acres of solitude, where huge skies explode with stars after sundown. See lions prowl in the Kalahari Desert and wildebeest gather on the plains. Tap into history at a 19th-century diamond mine, paddle the Orange river and hike to South Africa’s largest falls. There are so many things to see and do in South Africa’s largest and least populated region. Here are just 10 reasons to choose the Northern Cape for your South Africa holiday.
7 days / from4800 USD
Cape town and Garden Route - a luxury guided tour
Cape Town and the Garden Route have it all - a fascinating culture, safaris, chocolate and wine tasting, and much more. Discover the coastal city of Cape Town and the Peninsula before heading out to the Garden Route with Knysna and Mossel Bay, where you'll experience some game drives.
customize ⤍15 days / from4000 USD
The Cape Peninsula and Safaris in Kruger and Pilanesberg
Wildlife in South Africa is still truly wild, a fact that you'll be able to discover in this fascinating two weeks trip. Enjoy whale watching in Cape Town and first safaris in Aquila before heading up north: the famous Kruger and Pilanesberg national parks with all its wildlife await.
customize ⤍7 days / from3000 USD
Explore the North of South Africa: Sun City and Madikwe game reserve
For those short on time, staying close to Johannesburg may make sense. On this trip, you'll arrive and depart in South Africa's capital Johannesburg and then transfer to the theme park Lost City before continuing to Madikwe for a few days of game drives to spot plenty of wildlife.
customize ⤍17 days / from4500 USD
Secret gem in South Africa - Northern Cape Self Drive
Embark on an epic self-drive adventure from Cape Town to the Northern Cape. Witness the breathtaking floral displays of Namaqualand, marvel at the diverse wildlife in Karoo National Park, and be captivated by the awe-inspiring cascades of Augrabies Falls.
customize ⤍7 days / from950 USD
A family self drive in South Africa & Swaziland
Take the family on an African adventure in your own rental car, it's the ideal companion to discover Kruger National Park at your own pace. Further on to Swaziland and then Hluhluwe, this trip focuses on wildlife and exploration, all at your leisure.
customize ⤍3 days / from1000 USD
A Kruger adventure
Kruger National Park is one of the best known national parks in South Africa and always worth a visit. Starting and ending in Johannesburg is the most convenient one, the perfect stop to then take a domestic flight towards George or Cape Town for the rest of your trip.
customize ⤍17 days / from3650 USD
Safaris, culture & wine - South Africa's must do's
Explore cosmopolitan Johannesburg, go on safaris in Kruger NP, sip wine on the Cape Peninsula and explore the Eastern Cape - this fast-paced itinerary allows you to truly immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle of South Africa, discovering the most fascinating parts of the country.
customize ⤍8 days / from2970 USD
Cape Amazing: Cape Town Explored
Visit Cape Town, South Africa's most breathtaking city, as you follow the circular route around the stunning peninsula. Make the most of deserted sandy beaches, quaint towns and rich winelands before you fly to Kapama Private Game Reserve for an encounter with the Big Five.
customize ⤍17 days / from5000 USD
Best of South Africa
Discover the best South Africa has to offer - start with the marvelous city of Cape Town with its peninsula, further on to the wine lands with gorgeous views of the Garden Route and on to culture, heritage & wildlife in Plettenberg Bay. End your trip with an authentic Kruger experience.
customize ⤍23 days / from4100 USD
Ultimate South Africa Road Trip
The adventure of a lifetime in your own rental car. Johannesburg and Cape Town, the Garden Route and the Eastern Cape, Kruger National Park and the Panorama Route - this itinerary packs the highlights of South Africa in one, easy to follow route. Hop in and get on the road!
customize ⤍7 days / from1610 USD
Complete Cape Town: Wildlife, Wine and Whales
Discover the natural beauty all around Cape Town. Located on the southwestern tip of South Africa, the area is home to rugged coastlines, undulating vineyards, and expanses of grassland, home some of the largest, wildest and most majestic creatures on earth.
customize ⤍10 days / from4300 USD
Cycling South Africa's Garden Route
An active, cycling adventure that is perfect for nature lovers. This exhilarating and unique tour takes you through leafy forests and up magnificent mountainsides to absorb break-taking views of the South African countryside.
customize ⤍17 days / from4250 USD
City Life & Safari - South African Gems
The perfect South Africa trip in just 17 days. Start in Cape Town with Mountain Table, Robben Island, the Peninsula and more. Head further to the wine lands for a relaxed stay before proceeding to Kruger National Park - 3 days of safari await before finishing your trip in Johannesburg.
customize ⤍18 days / from10488 USD
Five Star South Africa
Start your trip in Johannesburg with a few days exploring the city. Afterwards, take the exclusive Rovos Rail to Cape Town with several stops on the way. From Cape Town you will explore the peninsula as well as the wine lands. The Garden Route rounds up this luxurious trip.
customize ⤍Number one on your wish list is probably an animal safari. You could visit the enormous Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park that straddles South Africa and Botswana. Or, perhaps choose the smaller Maloka National Park, or shell out for the private Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. Maybe even dip into all three. But you’ll almost certainly be able to cross this one off your list.
When we say this park is enormous, imagine 37,000 square km – we’re talking almost twice the size of Kruger National Park – dominated by undulating red desert dunes, thornveld and salt pans. It’s an extraordinary landscape, all sweeping vistas and unbroken skies that dazzle at night with millions of stars. This, along with the wildlife, is why Kgalagadi provides one of South Africa’s best safari experiences.
Black-maned Kalahari lion © Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock
Herds of blue wildebeest, gemsbok, giraffe, hyenas, springbok – and cute meerkats stealing the show, are just some of the animals at Kgalagadi. But the big draw here has got to be the big cats – the elusive leopard, the cheetah and the mighty black-maned Kalahari lion. But bird lovers will also be delighted. There are around 280 species of birdlife, including various eagles, owls, and goshawks. In summer look out for the willow and African marsh warbler and listen at night for the Rufous-cheeked Nightjar.
The park has various accommodation options, including wilderness camps and three fenced restcamps (peace of mind for parents, knowing no four-legged predator will suddenly appear). The restcamps also come with swimming pools – great for overheated and fractious kids (and adults).
The luxury !Xaus Lodge, owned by the Khomani San and Mier communities, also comes with a pool, as well as a cosy communal lounge to relax in before dinner. They offer guided game drives, as well as walks with Bushman trackers and the chance to see Bushman crafters at work making traditional goods.
The 48,000 acres of hills and open plains of Mokala National Park are home to many endangered animals. Take a game drive to see black rhino, white rhino, Burchell’s zebra, tsessebe, giraffe, and roan and sable antelope, among others. Mokala’s rocky outcrops also attract many species of birdlife, including the black-chested prinia, the lappetfaced vulture, and martial and tawny eagles.
Red hartebeest in Mokala National Park © LouisLotterPhotography/Shutterstock
There are also great fly-fishing opportunities at the river near the Lilydale restcamp – which is good news for anglers.
South Africa’s largest private wildlife reserve provides a haven for some of the big favourites, such as lions and cheetahs, giraffes and zebras. There’s a commitment to ecotourism and conservation, with breeding programmes contributing to the survival of indigenous species, such as the sable and roan antelope.
Staying at Tswalu is the ultimate in luxury safari. You’re given a personal guide and tracker for your expedition, while back at base are spa treatments, the use of a gym, and top-notch meals and accommodation.
Black rhinos in Tswalu Kalahari Reserve © Lance van de Vyver/Shutterstock
Peering into the Big Hole at Kimberley is a glimpse into the city’s turbulent diamond mining history. In 1871, thousands of prospectors descended on Kimberley with picks and shovels, to dig for the glittering gems, after a shepherd found a whopper nearby, weighing a cool 83.5 carats. By the time the mine closed in 1914, it had become the world’s largest hand-dug excavation, yielding 2,722kg of precious stones.
There’s a viewing platform above the Big Hole, as well as a simulated mine shaft, the audio visuals effectively recreating the harsh conditions the miners must have faced. You can learn more about the history of diamond mining in the Exhibition Centre and see a vault containing genuine diamonds, including the Eureka, the first diamond discovered in South Africa.
The Big Hole at Kimberley © Jennifer Sophie/Shutterstock
The partly restored and preserved Old Town at the museum offers a fascinating step back in time to the diamond-rush era. It includes a church, a pub, boxing academy, tobacconist and miners’ sleeping quarters. Kids will love the old tram that trundles from the Old Town part of the way around the perimeter of the Big Hole.
While you’re in Kimberley on your South Africa holiday, you must make time for some of the city’s best museums and galleries.
The McGregor Museum houses a broad mix of displays covering, for example, the history of diamond mining in Kimberley, the Second South African War (also known as the Anglo-Boer War), as well as the fraught struggle for democracy in South Africa. Not to be missed is the Ancestor’s Gallery, an absorbing exhibition investigating the ancestry of Northern Cape inhabitants going back millions of years.
McGregor Museum, Kimberley © South Africa Tourism/Flickr
Alfred Duggan-Cronin was nicknamed “Thandabantu”, meaning someone who loves people, in the language of the Matabele. The collection in the Duggan-Cronin Gallery gives you some indication why. The Irish amateur photographer began taking pictures of miners in1904 and then travelled all over South Africa, photographing the indigenous people of the country. There are more than 8,000 photographs on display, most of them taken by Duggan-Cronin. This is a must visit for anyone interested in art, photography, and the history and culture of South Africa.
The William Humphreys Art Gallery is one of South Africa’s top art galleries. It houses a large collection of work by European Old Masters, but the main focus is on traditional and contemporary South African art. It was also one of the first galleries to recognise San rock paintings as works of art.
As you approach South Africa’s largest falls you understand why the Khoikhoi people named them Ankoerebis, meaning “the place of great noise”. Colossal amounts of water from the Orange River thunder through a ravine and hurtle over a 56m drop – creating quite a din. The incredible scene is accentuated by the austere semi-desert backdrop, which is all the more striking at sunset. The falls are particularly impressive between February and April, when the river is at its fullest.
Although the falls are the big draw here, there’s way more to see in Augrabies National Park, either via a driving tour or by hiking. As a gentle introduction, the 5km Dassie nature trail is easy enough for even kids to tackle, while the three-day Klipspringer trail (open April–end of September) is a somewhat tougher adventure, taking you right into the gorge, and staying overnight in simple huts.
Augrabies Falls © Jan Erasmus/Shutterstock
The hikes weave through a harsh, but striking, landscape of dusty brown desert, interspersed with the odd camel thorn tree and kokerboom (quiver tree), so named because the San people used the hollow branches as quivers for arrows. You’ll come across ‘potholes’ and other strange rock formations, including the striking Moon Rock, a giant dome rock rising up from the plains. Be on the lookout too for wildlife, such as the Hartmann’s mountain zebra, klipspringer, springbok and mongoose. You can reserve the Klipspringer trail through SANparks.
The Orange River also supplies much in the way of outdoor adventure. Rafting and canoeing activities include the thrilling “Augrabies Rush”, a 9km rafting trip on fast-moving water above the falls, which can be arranged with Kalahari Outventures. There’s also the more leisurely four-day Augrabies Canoe Trail, which provides the added excitement of camping overnight on the riverbank.
Hiking in the Augrabies Falls National Park © Great Stock/Shutterstock
Children can be a tough crowd to please, but show them a real dinosaur footprint? Now you’re talking. At the Gansfontein farm palaeosurface, 5km from Fraserburg, you can see marks and trails embedded in the rock from numerous prehistoric creatures, including the star-in-show Bradysaurus footprint from around 255 million years ago. While you’re pondering the craziness of that, the tour guide will fill you in on what the Karoo landscape was like when these creatures roamed here.
Visit the Ou Pastorie museum in Fraserburg to book the tour. And while you’re there, take a look at the fascinating fossil collection.
This is harsh mountain desert wilderness at its rawest. Yet, it’s also eerily beautiful. Less than 50mm of rain falls here each year, but thanks to the morning mist that rolls in from the Atlantic, this sparse landscape of sun scorched mountains and rough plains, manages to nurture an incredible assortment of plant life, reptiles, mammals and birds.
Quiver Tree in Richtersveld National Park © Geoff Sperring/Shutterstock
In fact, it’s home to 30 percent of South Africa’s species of succulents, many unique to Richtersveld. Punctuating the desert landscape are quiver trees, giant aloes and halfmensboom (‘half-mens’ – so called because of their human-like form).
Fly-fishing and getting afloat on the Orange River are popular activities at Richtersveld. Going on a multiday canoe or rafting trip is a fantastic way to soak up the splendid stark scenery of the park, especially when they include overnight riverside camping under the stars. Several companies offer trips, including the reliable Bushwhacked Outdoor Adventure. These expeditions involve a gentle paddle along the water, making them suitable for even fairly young children.
There are several options for accommodation, including campsites, wilderness camps with dramatic views, and the Sendelingsdrift Rest Camp, which has chalets and swimming pool – a definite plus in the desert heat.
But no trip would be complete without staying with the Nama communities, who co-manage the land of Richtersveld. In fact, it’s their semi-nomadic and pastoral way of life, practised for some two thousand years, which contributed to the park’s UNESCO World Heritage status. Visit villages such as Lekkersing, Kuboes, and Eksteenfontein, and sample traditional food, such as dumplings cooked in goat’s milk.
The Orange River flowing through Richtersveld National Park © Geoff Sperring/Shutterstock
When a landscape is mostly sparse mountain desert and granite rock, in various shades of brown and ochre, it’s all the more surprising to see it transformed into a riot of colour. Each year, Namaqualand’s hardy succulents burst into bloom, carpeting the earth in vibrant Kaleidoscopic shades of reds, pinks, oranges – and every shade in between.
The best places to see the phenomenal display are the Skilpad section of Namaqualand National Park, which often delivers even in years with low rainfall, and the Goegap Nature Reserve, near Springbok. As well as around 600 indigenous species of flowering plants, Goegap has a wonderful wildflower garden of unusual succulents. The park is also home to an assortment of wildlife, including the Namaqualand sandgrouse, the aardwolf, springbok, ostrich and black eagle. Keep a lookout as you drive the 17km loop around the park, or while walking one of the short hiking trails – easy enough for all the family to manage.
Flower season in Namaqualand © Marie-Anne AbersonM/Shutterstock
There’s nothing like looking up at a star-studded night sky to make you feel just a little bit insignificant – in the overall scheme of things. The huge, year-round clear skies of the Karoo offer perfect conditions for such mind-blowing contemplation, as well as simply providing a magical star-studded extravaganza.
At the Observatory at Sutherland, you can book a night sky tour and talk, and take a closer look at the cosmos through telescopes. There are also daytime tours to see the South African Large Telescope (SALT), although whoever named it rather played down its size – this is the largest biggest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere.
There’s further star spotting at the more informal Sterland Sutherland. Local astronomy enthusiast Jurg Wagener gives fascinating talks most evenings, and there’s a series of telescopes pointing at the sky, so that you can marvel at the universe and pick out various constellations of stars. A sure winner for the whole family.
Night sky at Sutherland © Alexcpt_photography/Shutterstock
Thousands of years ago, people carved images into the rocks of the animals that roamed here. Incredibly, these 400 or so engravings of buffalo, elephants, antelopes and other creatures still remain. You can see the Late Stone Age artwork via one of the excellent tours given by the local !Xun and Khwe people, who own the site at Wildebeest Kuil, near Kimberley. There’s also a shop selling San art and crafts.
Rock Art at Wildebeest Kuil © Amanda/Flickr
It’s seems improbable: within a mountain desert landscape of jagged, rust-coloured rock formations, the odd camel thorn tree, and rough plains, you’ll find the Riemvasmaak Hot Springs. The remote and wild landscape provides a magnificent backdrop to a soothing soak in the wonderful warm waters of pools built into the rocks. Look out for pale winged starlings and fish eagles above.
Riemvasmaak is located north of Augrabies National Park, between the Orange River and the dry bed of the Molopo River, near the border with Namibia.
Find out more about holidaying in South Africa's Northern Cape and start planning your trip.
Top image: Hiking in the Augrabies Falls National Park © Great Stock/Shutterstock
written by Rough Guides Editors
updated 25.10.2021
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