“The land of contrasts, where less is more…”

The Green Kalahari is a region of the Northern Cape that is full of wonders ...  Vast tracts of bleak, shimmering semi desert contrast dramatically with lush green vineyards filling the Orange River’s fertile valleys. The massive body of water meanders through a giant valley of its making, being at its most impressive at the Augrabies Falls National Park, where the deafening fury of a huge torrent of angry water plummeting 56m down a series of granite cataracts speaks volumes for the river’s awesome power. By 1884, the river had been claimed by colonialists, and irrigation and development followed.

Activities in the area include:  camel back trips, thrilling white water rafting, parasailing on the many pans in the region, as well as a spectacular afternoon micro light glides above the undulating red dunes and jagged mountains of Riemvasmaak and the Mier Kalahari with its 35 to 40 meters high sand dunes.  For the less adventurous traveller there is an abundance of hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, bird watching, game drives in the national and many exquisite private game reserves, camping and fly-in safaris.

The mighty Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Africa’s first transfrontier park, comprises almost 3.7 million hectares of sparsely vegetated, red sand dunes and dry riverbeds.   The reserve provides sanctuary for gemsbok, springbok, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, lion, leopard, cheetah and smaller game. One of Africa’s last pristine game reserves, the size of the park allows for the mass migration of different species... a truly awe-inspiring site to behold!

The San (Bushmen) have left behind many unique attractions detailing their lives and hunting antics. These include the remains of permanent settlements on the farm Bitterputs in the Verneuk Pan near the town Kenhardt as well as many fascinating cave drawings and engravings.

The Green Kalahari is an amazing region boasting huge vistas, climatic extremes and fascinating adaptations to harsh conditions.  Nowhere else in South Africa is the build-up of a thunderstorm as beautiful and dramatic!

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