Trees Piersma explored the lesser-known North Cape with ten travel agents. With tough 4WD rental cars they travelled from Upington to Cape Town, via Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Augrabies Falls National Park, Namakwaland, the Cedar Mountains, Kagga Kamma, Paternoster to bustling Cape Town.
Northern Cape: Vast and pure
The North Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa,vast and pure and ideally suited to discover by rental car. From Upington, visit the Kgalagadi N.P., south Africa’s Kalahari with beautiful sand dunes and palmtrees along rivers. It is the habitat of the Bushmen and above all: rich in large and small game and bird life. Augrabies Falls,impressive waterfalls with imposing rock formations and a beautiful reserve with vantage points from desert landscape to winding rivers. Along the west coast, just below Namibia, Namakwaland, known for its colourful sea of flowers in September, but beautiful all year old. There are several beautiful walking routes.
“From Augrabies to Springbok you can see the landscape changing, emptiness, silence and beautiful rocks and mountains”
What has stayed with me the most is the impressive and rugged landscape. I heard from the travel agents who were on this study trip that the landscape exceeded their expectations. The Cedar Mountains, for example, some found more beautiful and impressive than Bryce Canyon, but this region is so unknown to many. Khalagadi National Park with sand dunes and starry skies as you can see them in Namibia. We enjoyed lions, cheetahs, zebras and giraffes, and it’s also a dream for bird lovers. Augrabies Falls is really worth visiting; both the waterfalls and the beautiful vantage points in the park.
From Augrabies to Springbok you can see the landscape changing, emptiness, silence and beautiful rocks and mountains. Our back route through the Cedar Mountains where you become quiet from the imposing rocks I don’t forget anyone anymore I think. Before you drive on to Cape Town you can combine this very well with a stay on the coast at Paternoster or in the famous wine region.
“Cape Town is modern and hip, a real world city with cosy terraces”
Bustling Cape Town should not be missed, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Modern and hip, a real world city with cosy terraces, beautiful shops and good restaurants and of course a beautiful area of the oats and the famous Table Mountain. We went on our bikes through the city, past the hip Camps Bay,through the city gardens, stopping at Green Market and reflecting on the history of Apartheid in District 6 and BoKaap.”
South Africa is a large and diverse country, which is why it is called ‘the world in one’. The region we have visited is less well known, but so worth it. People who visit this region have often already fallen in love with Africa. The infrastructure is good, the people are extremely friendly and the rugged scenery and space makes it a great destination.
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