Northern Cape

The largest of South Africa’s provinces and accounting for a third of the country’s area, but with one of the smallest populations. It is wild and untamed with a harsh, dry climate. People settled here due to the large quantities of diamonds found. This also encouraged outlaws and bandits such as Scotty Smith, making a historical comparison with the American Wild West.

The mighty Orange River is the lifeline of the province. It rises on the western slopes of the Drakensberg in Lesotho and flows west for over 2100 km to the Atlantic Ocean at Oranjemund. For most of this distance it flows through arid semi-desert landscapes. The last 450 km forms a natural border between South Africa and Namibia.

Northern Cape The mighty Orange River is the lifeline of the province. It rises on the western slopes of the Drakensberg in Lesotho and flows west for over 2100km to the Atlantic Ocean at Oranjemund...Read more

Province Statistics

Capital: Kimberley

Surface Area: 361 830 sq km

Population: 900 000

Languages: Setswana. Afrikaans, Sotho, and Xhosa. English is spoken primarily as a second language.

Religions: Christian

Currency : Rand

Time Zone : GMT +2

International Dialling Code : + 27

Voltage Requirements : 220/250V, 50hz. Sockets take plugs with 3 large round pins.

Highlights:

• Augrabies Falls
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Kimberley
• The Big Hole