South Africa for South Africans
description
Transcript of South Africa for South Africans
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MUSE
UMS
RESTAURANTS
SCENICR
OUTES
WILDLIFE
ADVENT
URES
MONUME
NTS
NATIONA
LPARKS
BATTLEF
IELDS
MOUNTA
INPASS
ES
HIKINGTRAILS
BEACH
ES
CULTURA
LSITES
MTBROU
TES NATUR
EWALKS
WINEFARMS
GALLERI
ES
By Marille Renssen and Hirsh Aronowitz
for South Africans
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Page
Quicknder 3
Map of South Africa 4
Route 1 - Tzaneen to Kruger 6
Route 2 - N2 Cape Town to East London 14
Route 3 - R62: Robertson to Oudtshoorn 24
Route 4 - Calitzdorp to Beaufort West 32Route 5 - Calvinia to Upington 38
Route 6 - Upington to Thabazimbi 46
Route 7 - Swellendam to Saldanha Bay 54
Route 8 - Swellendam to Calvinia 62
Route 9 - Grahamstown to Uniondale 70
Route 10 - Aliwal North to Underberg 78
Route 11 - Bloemfontein to Harrismith 86
Route 12 - Pietermaritzburg to Harrismith 94
Route 13 - Durban to East London 102
Route 14 - Port Elizabeth to George 110
Route 15 - Swellendam to Gordons Bay 118
Route 16 - Calvinia to Kimberley 128
Route 17 - Johannesburg to Welkom 136
Route 18 - Beaufort West to Vryburg 142
Route 19 - Cape Town to Bloemfontein 150
Route 20 - Bloemfontein to Musina 158
Route 21 - Ceres to Clanwilliam 168
Route 22 - Durban to Mokopane 174
Route 23 - Harrismith to Kosi Bay 184
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Making the annual pilgrimage to lose yourself inlandscapes shimmering with the exuberance ofspring is something you will never tire of simply because every year is dierent. Thespring owers can be early or late. They canbe sparse, or abundant, depending on the
benevolence of the seasons rain. There aretimes when aming orange and yellow prevail,others when the earth is tamed by cool whiteand purple. And in Vanrhynsdorp andNieuwoudtville, in particular, you get to seefat-ngered plants that are somewhat shyer andrarer but often no less beautiful. Time your tripcarefully, though this ower phenomenononly happens during two months of the year(September and October).
Then, as you head northward, there are somestriking nature reserves, notably Namaqua NP,which, even though it is more spectacular inspring, still oers stony mountainscapes andhigh wraparound views year-round. The north-western part of South Africa can be blistering insummer, though, with the mercury regularlyhitting the 40s, so its wise to avoid planningyour travels here in December/January.
Augrabies Falls NP is not too great a sidestepo the N14, and the experience here should notbe overlooked. Even when the water is fairlylow, the Orange River roars and shudders overthe lip of a canyon so dramatic, photographssimply dont do it any justice. In full ood, there
can be up to 19 waterfalls, a wonderful sensoryexperience. The rugged, wild landscape is greatfor hiking, biking and driving theres some-thing here for everyone.
Calvinia, Nieuwoudtville & Vanrhynsdorp spring flowers, Springbok,Augrabies Falls NP, Upington, Richtersveld
CALVINIA TO UPINGTON
COMPELLING REASONS TO VISIT
SEASONAL INFORMATION
Best time or season to visit this regionAug to Oct
Best time for camping, walking,mountain biking, hiking or trekkingMar to Apr, Aug to Oct
Best time for river canoeingMar to Sep
Best time for ower viewingSep to Oct
ROUTE5
787km/8hrs
40mins
Town plansNational parks
Scan these QR codes to access national park maps
and town plans for this section (see last page of book)
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HIGHLIGHTS PageNieuwoudtville and Vanrhynsdorps spring-
ower spectacle 414km and 50km hikes in Oorlogskloof NR,
Nieuwoudtville 41Walks, hikes, mountain biking and 4x4 trail inAugrabies Falls NP 42
Water sports on Orange River, Upington 44
SO MANY THINGS TO DO OR SEECalvinias giant postbox 40Calvinia Museum (old Jewish synagogue) 40Hantam Huis museum & restaurant, Calvinia 40Latsky Radio Museum, Vanrhynsdorp 41Look out for corbelled houses on the way toSpringbok 42
Stop at Die Pienk Padstal, Kakamas 43Taste wines at Orange River Cellars, Kakamas,
Keimoes and Upington 44
HEAD FOR THE OUTDOORSTwo hiking trails in Akkerendam NR, Calvinia 404x4 trail on Papkuilsfontein farm,
Nieuwoudtville 4112km hike and mountain biking on
Papkuilsfontein farm, Nieuwoudtville 41MTB and 4x4 trails in Goegap NR, Springbok 43Caracal Ecotrail (176200km) in Namaqua NP,Springbok 43
Quad biking in Kalahari dunes, Pofadder 434x4 trails, hiking and mountain biking at
Riemvasmaak, Kakamas 43Water sports for the kiddies on the Orange 44Sunset boat cruise on the river, Upington 44Dune boarding near roaring sands, Witsand NR,
east of Upington 44
SIDE JOURNEYS OF INTERESTLoeriesfontein Windmill Museum 41Two guided Shipwreck 4x4 trails along
Diamond Coast 42Strandveld guided 4x4 trail inland of
Diamond Coast 42Three-day Diamond Coast hiking trail 42|Ai-|Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park 42Spot big cats and raptors in KgalagadiTransfrontier Park 44
Mid-Mar Orange River Cellars Marathon & Half Marathon,upingtoncrusaders.blogspot.com
Third week Mar Three-day Green Kalahari (Orange River) CanoeMarathon, Upington, www.gkcm.co.zaThird week Mar Kalahari Desert Festival, Askham (north of Upington),
www.kalaharidesertfestival.orgSee Top Event below
>>Late Aug Hantam Vleisfees, Calvinia, www.hantamvleisfees.co.zaEnd Aug Four-day, 110120km Namaqua Quest Trail Run, Springbok,
www.namaquaquest.co.zaSee Top Event bel ow
>>Sep/Oct(depending on ower season), Succulent Show,Vanrhynsdorp, www.tourismvanrhynsdorp.co.zaEarly SepDaisy Marathon, Springbok, tel: 083 491 0227Early SepFour-day Kalahari Kuierfees, Upington,
www.kalahari-kuierfees.co.zaEnd Sep/early OctSt Augustines Cultural Festival, Springbok,
tel: 084 597 7889 or 076 697 1055Mid-OctSeven-day, 250km Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon,
Augrabies, www.extrememarathons.comLate Oct Three-day Namaqua Festival, Vredendal,
www.tourismvanrhynsdorp.co.zaLate Nov Two-week Namakwa Festival, Springbok, tel: 084 956 1865
>> Top EventHantam VleisfeesWhen it comes to the farming community, the Hantam Vleisfees (or MeatFestival) in Calvinia is an excuse for a rip-roaring good time. And its notonly the locals who ock to thefees. People travel from all over to sample
skilpadjies(liver wrapped in fat) and country-style lamb delicacies,watch an auction of whole sheep (skinned and ready for the pot) andlangarmto country musicians. Forming part of the multiday events are asheep-shearing competition, processions of veteran tractors and vintagevehicles, drum majorettes and a beauty parade, and lots of entertainmentfor the kids, including rolling around in giant inated transparent balls.
>> Top EventSucculent ShowBecause Vanrhynsdorps Knersvlakte soils are so arid and stony (and thelittle town is also at the start of the semi-desert Nama Karoo), the springowers produced by the bulbs, corms and tubers are all the more amazing,erupting out of nowhere to produce delicate blooms in the most vivid ofhues. Where many West Coast areas present a amboyant, and prolic,display of gazanias and daisies, these bulbs and eshy plants are rarerand restricted to the sere inland plains. The owers are ephemeral, somelasting only ve days, so the annual Succulent Show is pretty special.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS, FESTIVALS, RACESALONG THE ROUTE
GRIEKWA RATELGATThe farm Ratelgat, about 20km north of Vanrhynsdorp, is owned by the Griqua (also Griekwa) Ratelgat Development Trust. As a land
restitution initiative, its objectives are to reunite the Griqua community and conserve their culture and heritage. Visitors to the farm can
stay in a traditional matjieshuis, consisting of a dome-shaped frame made of green saplings covered with woven reed mats, over a cement oor. The
interior is simple: two foam mattresses and a tiny bedside table holding a candle.These huts sit at the foot of a rock amphitheatre that backs onto a San cave, which holds faded rock paintings. A guide will show you the Griqua
stone monument, remains of packed-stone lime-processing structures, San artefacts, a trance dance painting, and rock engravings of circles, wavy
lines and suns. You might also be shown the tiny eshy stone plants of the Succulent Karoo. In the evening, you can try grilled meat and roosterbrood
cooked over an open re and eaten under the stars.
027 213 5472:wwww.ratelgat.co.za/home.htm:www.griquas.com/2011/26.htm
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5 SPRING IN NIEUWOUDTVILLE AND VANRHYNSDORP
If the rains around April and May are good (only 100115mm in a
good year), drought-resistant seeds that have lain dormant in the
Karoo soils burst out in August or September in a blaze of hot pink,
ery orange and sunshine-yellow. The Nieuwoudtville Wildower
Reserve (115ha) has its share of pretty annuals Namaqualand
daisies, white Cape rain daisies, lilac felicias, burnt-orange gazanias,
farm-butter-yellow Bittergousblom, perdebos and sandbietou. But
its better known for its geophytes (bulbs, corms and tubers); one of
the highest concentrations in the world occur right here in the Karoo.
Of the 300+ species around Nieuwoudtville, youre likely to recognise
the delicate irises and bulbinellas.
Further along this route, Vanrhynsdorp nds itself
in the Knersvlakte (literally, gnashing plains for
its stony terrain over which transport riders
wagon wheels crunched). In tune with the
unforgiving terrain, wildowers here aremore eshy and succulent indeed,
its showtime for the mesembryanthe-
mums, or vygies, and lithops, or ower-
ing stones. Succulents tend to ower
a little later than the annuals, closer to
October. On the coastal Sandveld, look out
for volstruisvygies segueing from orange-red
to cerise to mauve.
Now, if youre lucky, and you hit a season in Nieu-
woudtville in which a late-summer residual rain of over 15mm has fallen
during February and March, soon afterwards you could get to see a mass
of pink round-headed blooms erupt out of the earth, like a hundredMedusas. They are the Brunsvigia bosmaniae, a beautiful bulb of the
Amaryllis family, which owers en masse only with the right rains.
9 LATSKY RADIO MUSEUM
Well, hopefully this rather dierent museum will still be around
by the time you read this, since its owner is not a young man any
more judging by the rst time he started collecting his Bakelite
tabletop and wooden-cabinet valve radios (1947). He has since
amassed some 400 old valve specimens, from the 1920s to World
War II. Additional memorabilia include a radio receiver from a
Lancaster Bomber and a Russian spy ship radio that once en-
crypted Cold War messages for Moscow. Do call before you visit.
7 50KM HIKES (x2) IN OORLOGSKLOOF NR
There are 147km of tough hiking trails in this 5,577ha reserve,
sprawling across deeply incised gorges sliced by the Oorlogs-
kloof River through the Bokkeveld mountain plateau. The
reserve and river inherited their name from the warring that
took place here in 1739 between the pastoralist Khoikhoi and
local Dutch farmers. The rugged scenery of tight-knit rock-
capped kopjes, kloofs and valleys is thanks to their placement
in the uppermost reaches of the Cederberg. Marked routes map
out a 4km one-day route and two 50km treks (the Rock Pigeon
and Rameron Pigeon trails) of 47 days. For the twitchers, over
90 bird species it through the canyons; for the botanists, the
fynbos and Karoo biomes promote great plant diversity.
8 4x4 TRAIL ON PAPKUILSFONTEIN FARM
WATERFALL HIKE AND MTB TRACKS ON FARM
Papkuilsfontein farm adjoins the Oorlogskloof reserve, and its
rocky mountain territory is just whats needed to give 4x4
adventurers a steep, stony and immensely scenic trail to thetop of a kloof. The 15km route has a diculty rating of 45 and
climbs to the edge of a 180m canyon, then tracks along it to a
camp site. Astounding views take in the Nieuwoudtville Water-
fall and the Knersvlakte rolled out to every horizon. A 12km hike
to the canyon waterfall, and a network of rough gravel roads,
will make both walkers and mountain bikers very happy.
6 LOERIESFONTEIN WINDMILL MUSEUM
In such a tiny one-horse town as Loeriesfontein (the garage is a
couple of pumps, the lone diesel pump sitting on the roadside!),
youve just got to love the sight of a silent mass gathering of shiny
silver windmills outside this little settlement. Okay, probably not so
silent when the wind blows and 27 sets of blades start creaking and
moaning in unison. From an American Aeromotor to a Conquest
(Germany) and a Southern Cross (Australia), the windmills were
collected and sponsored by interested South Africans.
Kakamas Upington
SPRING FLOWER VIEWING
Remember these tips for maximum enjoyment: the petalsunfurl facing the full sun so cloudy days are no good for
viewing owers. When the sun isout, the most colourful
perspective is when youre driving with the sun behind you.
And blooms are at their prettiest between 11:00 and 16:00;
after that the petals start turning in.
WindmillMuseum, Loeriesfontein
RICHTERSVELD WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Most people know of the Richtersveld National Park but few are aware of the
Community Conservancy, which recently became the core of a World Heritage
Site, attached to the parks southern boundary and the Orange River to the east. Its a vast
area of 160,000ha in which no mining is allowed, and the last refuge of the Nama people
who migrate seasonally from mountains to river with their livestock, living in harmony with
the fragile succulent ecosystem. Visitors can explore the stark, wild beauty of the mountains
and the unusual plant life via 4x4 trails, hiking, cycling or horse riding. Cultural tours include
donkey-cart rides, story telling, a performance of the Nama stap dance, or viewing petro-
glyphs engraved on black dolerite. Guides can be hired in Eksteenfontein and Kuboes.
027 851 7108 (Eksteenfontein)027 831 2363 (Kuboes)027 851 8580 (Lekkersing)
:www.richtersveld.net :www.richtersveld-conservancy.org
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11 RICHTERSVELD, THE ULTIMATE IN WILDERNESS
If its the real untrammelled wilderness that makes your soul sing,and you own a 4x4, then the |Ai-|Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier
Park should be right near the top of your bucket list. Its remote -
ness demands that you dont venture there alone, and you need
to carry all your own water. But the mountain desert is quite
spectacular: stacked peaks as far as the eye can see, in chocolate
shades of cream, brown and black; rockscapes from granite and
quartz to schist and sandstone; giant whaleback boulders with
weathered, peeling skins.
Although there are several camp sites, it would be a pity not to stay
in at least one of the wilderness camps, each one unique and built of
reeds, canvas, and wood or stone in remote and beautiful settings.
12 AUGRABIES FALLS NATIONAL PARK
3HR HIKE ABOVE GORGE
THREE-DAY WALKING TRAIL (DIFFICULT)
94KM WILDERNESS ROAD 4x4 ROUTE
MOUNTAIN-BIKING TRAIL ALONG CANYON
Here, the Orange River tumbles some 56m over a high granite cli,as the Augrabies Falls, into a tightly hemmed-in gorge. Before the
summer rains, when the river is low, some 2 tonnes of water a second
pummels and pounds its way through an eroded channel. But this can
swell to 8 tonnes during oods, as it did in 1988. This place of great
noise, translated from a Khoi word, most certainly is as its described.
The thunder lls your head long before youve reached the beautifully
crafted wooden platforms suspended over the edge of the massive
granite canyon. The power of water is nowhere more evident than in
the abraded ssures and scoured holes in the ancient pitted rock
surrounding you on all sides.
The 3hr (5km) Dassie hiking trail follows the canyon edge, taking in
the Twin Falls (one big, one small) and ling around the spectacularArrow Point, where this ribbon of river and its narrow gorge reconnect
with the main canyon, then to the whaleback hump that is Moon
Rock, and back to camp. You need to be t for the rigorous three-day
Klipspringer trail (36km), open only from 1 April to mid-October due to
the intense summer heat.
For the less energetic, you can drive to Ararat, Oranjekom and Echo
Corner (guess what you do here!), where viewing decks allow you to
peer in awe along the sheer granite walls of the 18km-long chasm. The
more testing 4x4 trail takes around 6hrs, but break your adventure
at the halfway picnic spot with its braai and ablution facilities. The
mountain-biking track visits all the scenic viewpoints.
Stay the night at Augrabies just to merge the roar of the water with
your dreams; you have a choice of camp sites or self-catering chalets,
some of them family size.
Calvinia Vanrhynsdorp
Richtersveld
Augrabies Falls
10 TWO SHIPWRECK 4x4 TRAILS
STRANDVELD 4x4 TRAIL
DIAMOND COAST HIKING TRAIL
Although they are guided excursions (permits required), the
two half-day 4x4 trails between Kleinsee and Koingnaas are
self-driven. Both are circular routes of 45hrs each, one 27km,
the other 37km. They run along the coastline through a previously
restricted diamond-mining area, crossing thick sand and sections
of pebbled stone, but the driving is not dicult. The route takes
in bays and promontories, sharp rocky outcrops, and the ship-
wrecksArosa, Borderand Piratiny, which ran aground between
1943 and 1976.
Within the same restricted area is the Strandveld trail, this time
mainly a bleached-sand-dune route over an inland dune eld. It
forms part of a system that is, in fact, mobile rather than xed and
static and the dunes carry no vegetation, so there is no chance of
harming any ora or fauna. The system is believed to be the resulteither of a drop in sea level during the Ice Ages, which exposed the
sand, or of sand that was deposited by sea or river action and blown
into the interior over centuries by the wind. The Noup huts, formerly
inhabited by diamond divers, provide your roof for the night.
If shifting sand beneath your feet is your preferred way to go,
the three-day Diamond Coast hiking trail is a guided, portaged
trek over 48km. Dunes, shipwrecks and diamond mines all form
part of the experience.
CORBELLED HOUSES
On your way to Springbok, look out for the remnants of corbelled
houses, whose structure dates to the mid-1800s. An absence of wood
for roof trusses forced the early settlers to use at stones to build
their houses where, to create the domed roof, successive layers werestepped inward. Cement consisted of cha and soil blended with
water; lime, a good binding substance, was obtained from anthills.
Damp earth was smoothed to create the oor, which was then
hardened and polished with a combination of fat and ox blood.
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13 MTB AND 4x4 IN GOEGAP NR
This is the place of spiky kokerbomeand halfmenstrees, lording over their
kingdom of bald-headed granite kopjes and at-ironed plains. A 35km maze
of gravel and jeep tracks, threading among gemsbok, Hartmanns zebra and
klipspringers, eventually climbs to the crown of Carolusberg. Along the way,
sand, stone and rock slabs nicely challenge both 4x4ers and two-wheelers.
For the more sedate, theres the Hester Malan Wildower Garden (in spring).
14 NAMAQUA NP 4x4 TRAILThe Caracal Ecotrail, which can be done in sections or as a single trail,
varies in its entirety from 176km to 200km, taking 68hrs if not returning
to the park. Test out your tyres on steep gravel and stone ascents, dongas,
a couple of river crossings and an extensive sand-dune corridor. From the
parks Skilpad oces, the route traverses mountains and a couple of passes
on its meandering way to the coastline. A 50km stretch of often mist-
enshrouded seashore miles and miles of rock and deserted white sands nally leads you to the Groenrivier mouth.
15 QUAD BIKING IN KALAHARI DUNES
If youre not in a hurry to get to your destination and you
have the need to shake o the rigours of the long road and
a bit of rough-and-tumble on four fat wheels is your kind of
thing stop o in Pofadder (cmon, youve got to see what
the jokes are all about; you might be surprised). Enquire at
the Pofadder Hotel: theres a guided 18km trail to Diep en
Deur (2hrs 30mins), taking in all sorts of interesting little
historical attractions along the way (and a Verreauxs eagle
nesting site); or you could opt for Dinkys Dunes, two guided
25km trails (25hrs) through brick-red Kalahari dunes, rock
outcrops and silky grasses. Later youll be stretching out
under a star-studded galaxy at the camp site for the night.
But before that, the showers are hot and no doubt therell
be no shortage of stories to tell around the braai coals after
the days adventures.
16 4x4 ROUTES (x3) IN RIEMVASMAAK
THREE HIKING (PLUS ONE MTB) TRAILS IN
RIEMVASMAAK
This little settlement north of Kakamas got its
name (tying of thongs) from the manner in
which a Damara local lowered himself into a
gorge to get to a mineral spring for his rheuma-
tism. It is set in a chaotic jumble of stone-strewn
hills lled with rock pillars and canyons along-
side which the Orange River ows. The three
4x4 routes (Deurspring, Perdepoort and the
most technically challenging, Molopo) are badly
marked, so a good sense of direction is a useful
attribute to have. Each is easily done in a day;
expect deep sand, steep rock plateaus, dongas
and crunching stone beneath your tyres.
Three hiking trails cross some of the same
terrain, with one hugging a stretch of the Orange
River bank, while a thick sand and rocky track
(with complimentary dongas) can be explored
by mountain bike. Camp sites for all activities
are plentiful but rough and minimal: a walled en-closure holding a tree. A fun additive is the blue-
watered hot spring pools backed by high canyon
walls. Extreme options of comfort are oered:
rudimentary camping or equipped chalets with
water and electricity (albeit sporadic).
Kakamas Upington
CaracalEcotrail
DIE PIENK PADSTALYou seriously wont miss this quirky farm
stall on the outskirts of Kakamas, where
everything is as pink as oumas powder
pu inside and out. Youll be waylaid by
chalked-up smile-inducing quotes and all
sorts of interesting artefacts; the bath-
rooms, too, put the fun into piddling. Your
kids will be so entertained they wont want
to leave, so in the meantime eat a home-
made mutton pie, buy country jam and
chutney, or get your hands on some Klein
Pella dates (available from April on).
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19 DUNE BOARDING NEAR THE ROARING SANDS
Just east of Upington, o the N14, is the Witsand Nature Reserve,whose pale cream sands are a sharp and interesting contrast to
their backdrop of burnt-orange Kalahari dunes. Its here that the
brulsand, or roaring sands, occur. Under certain conditions,
the dunes emit a strange rumbling sound caused by
friction between the ne sand particles. What better
spot from which to head out to the nearby slopes
and perform Cirque du Soleil manoeuvres on a
dune board? The Witsand hotel complex will
sort you out.
20 KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK
Because, from Upington, you simply point
the nose of your vehicle north and drive
straight for 250km to this transfrontier
reserve, we just cant leave it out. Oh, so
quickly, the wildness of the place gets under
your skin. But patience is key: you can drive
for hours and not spot a thing; on the other
hand, the open, unobstructed grasslands pro-
vide the perfect sprint track for muscled cheetah,
and lions favour the acacia savannah where all the
grazers hang out. Do be aware that the Botswana side
of the transfrontier park is much more vast, under-
developed and the roads rougher, while facilities are
limited to the most basic of camp sites. Travellers
need to be entirely self-sucient, carrying all their
water, food and fuel.
On the South African side, the best part of Kgalagadi
are the beautifully constructed wilderness camps,blending into the natural environment and promising
blood-stirring calls of jackal and hyena at dusk or the
guttural grunt of a lion marking out his territory.
Calvinia Vanrhynsdorp
CampintheKgalagadi
17 ORANGE RIVER WATER SPORTS AND BOAT CRUISE
If the kids have had enough of I Spy games and counting white
bakkies from the narrow connes of your car, give them a treat
of fresh air and lots of splashing about. In the heart of Upington,
Sakkies Adventures will kit them up and load them onto a water
snake, tubes or take them kneeboarding. If its the adults whove
had enough, they could try spotting sh eagles instead. Sakkie
se Arkieis a dual-level riverboat that plies the Orange River
slap-bang in the middle of the town. Fear not, though, it does
take you on a sunset cruise along tree-lined banks and into
copper-painted skies.
18 WINE TASTING IN THE KALAHARI
Nosing and swirling wine in the Kalahari? Well, this is the greenKalahari, aided and abetted by that muscular, meandering
river of life. Upington is the hub of Orange River Cellars, whose
terraced vineyards stretch alongside the river for some 350km
and help to give the Green Kalahari its name. No fewer than ve
wineries have been established here, the closest open for tasting
at Kakamas, Keimoes and Upington. Cellar tours are run January
to March at 09:00, 11:00 and 15:00.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Augrabies Falls NP: outdoor activities
054 452 9200
:www.sanparks.orgNieuwoudtville & Vanrhynsdorp: spring fowers
027 218 1336
:www.namaquainfo.co.za
021 487 8600 or 021 201 3376
:www.tourismvanrhynsdorp.co.za
Oorlogskloof NR, Nieuwoudtville: hiking
027 218 1159
:www.northerncape.org.za/ getting_around/
parks_reserves/
THINGS TO DO OR SEE
Calvinias giant postbox
027 341 8100
:www.northerncape.org.za
Calvinia Museum
027 341 8100
:www.northerncape.org.za
Die Pienk Padstal, Kakamas
054 431 1457
Latsky Radio Museum, Vanrhynsdorp
027 219 1032
:www.tourismvanrhynsdorp.co.za
Orange River Cellars, Upington
054 337 8800
:www.orangeriverwines.com
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Augrabies Falls
054 452 9200
:www.sanparks.org
Diamond Coast hiking trail
027 887 0028
:www.diamondroute.co.za/sites_
namaqualand.htmDiep en Deur, Dinkys Dunes (Pofadder Hotel)
054 933 0063 or 083 232 2563
:www.pofadderhotel.co.za
Sakkies Adventures & Tours
082 575 7285 or 082 564 5447
:www.arkie.co.za
Witsand Nature Reserve & Hotel
053 313 1061/2 or 083 234 7573
:www.witsandkalahari.co.za
4x4 TRAILS
Caracal Ecotrail, Namaqua NP
027 672 1948
:www.sanparks.org
Diamond Coast Shipwreck trail
027 887 0028
:www.diamondroute.co.za/sites_
namaqualand.htm
Papkuilsfontein farm
027 218 1246
:www.papkuilsfontein.com
Remhoogte farm
027 541 1024 or 073 705 0929
Riemvasmaak
083 873 7715
:www.greenkalahari.co.za/index.php/
riemvasmaak
Strandveld trail
027 887 0028
:www.diamondroute.co.za/sites_
namaqualand.htm
SIDE JOURNEYS OF INTEREST
|Ai-|Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
027 831 1506
:www.sanparks.org
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
054 561 2000 (South Africa)
267 686 0444 (Botswana)
:www.sanparks.org
ACCOMMODATION
Calvinia, Die Blou Nartjie Guesthouse
027 341 1263
:www.nartjie.co.za
Calvinia, Hantam historical houses and units
027 341 1606
:www.calvinia.co.za
Springbok, Annies Cottage
027 712 1451 or 083 454 1252
:www.springbokinfo.com
Springbok, Blue Diamond Lodge
027 718 2624 or 082 492 8987
:www.bluediamondlodge.co.za
Upington, Aant Kanaal B&B
054 332 3722 or 082 4113 616
:www.sa-venues.com/visit/aantkanaal
Upington, Browns Manor Guesthouse
054 338 0384 or 082 371 8033
:www.brownsmanor.co.za
NATIONAL PARKS & RESERVES
|Ai-|Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
027 831 1506
:www.sanparks.org
Akkerendam NR
027 341 8500
:www.northerncape.org.za/getting_around/
towns/Calvinia/
Goegap NR
027 718 9906
:www.springbokinfo.co.za/
Naturereserves.htm
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
054 561 2000 (South Africa)
267 686 0444 (Botswana)
:www.sanparks.org
Namaqua NP
027 672 1948
:www.sanparks.org
Nieuwoudtville Wildfower Reserve
027 218 1336 (open seasonally)
:www.namaquainfo.co.za
CARAVAN & CAMPING
Calvinia, Klipwerf Camp/Caravan027 341 1126 or 083 229 5707
Kamieskroon, Verbe Caravan Park (2-star)
027 672 1776
Keimoes, Tkabies Camping (3-star)
054 461 2424
Nieuwoudtville, Van Zijl Olive Caravan Park
027 218 1535
:www.nieuwoudtville.co.za
Riemvasmaak camp sites
054 431 0945 or 083 873 7715
:www.greenkalahari.co.za/index.php/
riemvasmaak
Springbok, Kokerboom Motel/Caravan Park
027 712 2685
:www.namaqualandowers.co.za
Upington, Die Eiland Holiday Resort
054 334 0288
:www.kharahais.gov.za/eiland.html
RESTAURANTS
Calvinia, Die Blou Nartjie
027 341 1263
:www.nartjie.co.za
Calvinia, Hantam Huis
027 341 1606
:www.calvinia.co.za
Nieuwoudtville, Smidswinkel
027 218 1535 or 082 829 6855
:www.nieuwoudtville.co.za
Springbok, Tauren Steak Ranch027 712 2717
:www.springbokinfo.co.za/Tauren.htm
Springbok, Titbits Restaurant
027 718 1455
:www.springbokinfo.co.za/titbits.htm
TOWN TOURIST CENTRES
Calvinia Tourist Information
027 341 8100/8131
:www.northerncape.org.za/getting_around/
towns/Calvinia/
KakamasTourism
054 337 2804
:www.kakamas.co.za
Nieuwoudtville Tourism
027 218 1336
:www.nieuwoudtville.com
Springbok Tourism
027 712 8035/6
:www.northerncape.org.za
Upington
054 338 7151
:www.upington.com
Vanrhynsdorp Tourism
027 219 1552
:http://tourism.matzikamamun.co.za
REGIONAL TOURIST CENTRES
Green Kalahari Tourism
054 337 2946
:www.greenkalahari.co.zaNorthern Cape Tourism Authority (Kimberley)
053 832 2657 or 053 831 2789
:www.northerncape.org.za
West Coast Tourism
022 433 8505
:www.capewestcoast.org
Along the Route: Sites and Accommodation
Other Contacts
Kakamas Upington
-
5/20/2018 South Africa for South Africans
11/11
Ours is a big country we have a land area of just over 1.2 million km, about thesize of France and Spain combined. South Africans, therefore, are used to driving
vast distances simply to get from A to B (the road network totals 747,000km).Just think: if you drive diagonally across the country, from Cape Town in the
southwest to Musina in the extreme north, you will traverse some 2,000km. Ouraim here, therefore, is to make travelling those distances as interesting as possible!
In South Africa for South Africans23 driving routes of varying distances crisscrossthe entire country, many of them taking in national or provincial roads. There is
plenty to explore across our nine provinces, and the big skies, boundless vistas and
hours of sunshine have turned us into an outdoor-focused, activity-loving nation.Thats where the focus of this book lies. With each province radically dierent in
terms of biomes, landscape and climate, there is great incentive to slow down yourjourney and have fun with the family along the way. After all, a long journey is
never solely about the destination.
The intention of this book is not to focus only on the major tourist attractions thatare so familiar to South Africans, but rather to turn away from heavily troddenvisitor paths, delving into lesser known, more unusual activities. From hiking,
mountain biking and wildlife watching to birding, shing and beachcombing, this
book has some new surprises. Travellers are also invited to explore beyond theusually uninspiring main road that cuts through little country towns. From quirky
farm stalls, small-town museums, monuments and city walks to battleelds,cultural sites and interesting municipal parks, weve got them covered. Youmight even learn a few things you never knew about your own country
By Marille Renssen and Hirsh Aronowitz
for South Africans
ISBN 9 7 8 - 1 -7 7 0 2 6 -5 1 5 - 8
9 781770 265158
MAC/CPT/0114/NB/GH/TG
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MapStudio and the MapStudio device are trademarked toNew Holland Publishing (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd.1st edition MapStudio 2014. All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying,recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing fromthe Copyright owner.