The Orange River flows west through the particularly harsh countryside of this region. The
enormous Kalahari Gemsbok National Park offers ecotourists an escape into an untamed wilderness.
The irrigated banks of the Orange River give way to the dry scrubland of the Karoo. The region
is mostly hot in summer and cool to warm in winter. Winter nights can be quite cold, often
registering sub-zero temperatures.
Kimberley, the provincial capital and the region's largest city, is also one of the region's
main tourist attractions. Diamonds were discovered near Kimberley in 1869, and although the
legendary Big Hole has long been abandoned, mining
is still an important activity in the region.
The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park is one of the
largest nature reserves in Africa. Over 900,000ha (2,223,948 acres) fall within South Africa's
borders and another 1,800,000ha (4,447,897 acres) are part of Botswana. There are no fences and
the area forms one wilderness area. The Aoub and Nossob rivers run through the park and although
they are usually dry, much of the wildlife is concentrated about these rivers. A number of water
holes offer remarkable game-viewing.
The Augrabies Falls National Park offers a
spectacular waterfall as the Orange River winds through an 18km-long (11-mile-long) ravine to
plunge 56m (184ft) at the main falls. The Bridal Veil Fall drops 75m (246ft). The three-day
Klipspringer hiking trail follows the southern side of the river but is only open from April
until the middle of October, as the heat in summer is oppressive with an average rainfall of only
107mm (4in).
The Orange River Wine Cellars Co-operative, about 40km (25 miles) southwest of Upington, offers
wine tasting and cellar tours.
The wide open landscape of the Karoo is sprinkled with little hills or koppies, as they are
locally known. The capital, or 'Oasis of the Karoo' as it has become known, is Beaufort West.
The town of Graaff-Reinet is of great historical
interest, featuring many restored homes such as the Drostdy, the former residence and office of
the magistrate, which is now a beautiful hotel complex.
The Klein Karoo is the semidesert area between the Outeniqua, Langeberg and Swartberg mountain
ranges. It is a scenic area with a large diversity of farming activities, and is well known for
its dried fruit, wine and cheese.
The Central Karoo is known for its remarkable plant and animal life. Large flocks of merino and
dorper sheep dominate the landscape. Across the vast distances of land lie small towns and
isolated farmhouses. The heritage and history of the Central Karoo town, Victoria West, as well
as the prehistory of the Karoo is stored in the Victoria West Museum.
Other Karoo towns include Colesberg, which is nearly halfway between Cape Town and Johannesburg,
Matjiesfontein, Laingsburg and Calvinia.
On the western fringes of the Karoo, this region is dominated by the Breede River and Olifants
River valleys. Hot springs, wineries and hiking trails are among this area's main tourist
attractions.
The mountainous countryside around the Breede River
is divided by valleys which are intensely cultivated with vineyards, wheat and orchards. Ceres is the largest fruit and fruit juice producer in South Africa.
This fertile valley is surrounded by the rugged Skurweberg range. The nearby areas of Worcester,
McGregor and Robertson are ideal for viticulture. De Doorns, Bon Courage, Zandvliet and De
Wetshof are just a few of the vineyards in the area.
The Montagu Mountain Nature Reserve offers two long day-hikes into the Langeberg. Montagu
itself is a quaint little town featuring a number of Cape Dutch houses with stunning rose
gardens.
More wineries can be found in the Olifants River Valley. The Cedarberg mountain range bounds
the eastern side of the valley. The Cedarberg Mountain Wilderness Area covers 71,000ha (175,445
acres) and is famous for its fynbos, strange rock formations and San paintings. Clanwilliam and
Citrusdal are the main towns in the area. Hot springs can be found at 'The Baths', 15km (9miles)
south of Citrusdal. The temperature of the water is about 42°C (108°F) and there is a large
outdoor pool and a number of jacuzzis.
