SPONSORED LINKS
_______________________
GREEN KALAHARI ACCOMMODATION, ATTRACTIONS & INFORMATION
Jorisa Business Online | Online Shopping in South Africa | Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in South Africa | Guesthouse Accommodation in South Africa | Resort Accommodation in South Africa | Northern Cape Accommodation in South Africa | South African Tourism | The South African Traveller | Upington Accommodation | Backpacking in South Africa | Akkommodasie Suid Afrika | Business South Africa |
The Green Kalahari is where the arid zone comes alive, thanks to the vast Orange River that flows through this part of the Northern Cape. To the south, the river forms a natural boundary and to the north the landscape includes waves of dunes called streets that offer fabulous game viewing. Upington lies on the northern banks of the Orange River and is the Green Kalahari’s main town. It has the longest palm avenue in the southern hemisphere and is surrounded by plentiful vineyards that makes up more than 10% of the country’s total that produce great wines. Oranges, Lucerne, and cotton are also grown in the area.
Dried fruit, historic water tunnels hand-constructed by Cornish miners, a town consisting of 120 islands and the Augrabies Falls National Park, which has the sixth highest waterfall in the world are only some of the assests of this wonderland. Further north lie more towering canyons in the area of Riemvasmaak, which is run by the local community who offer a traditional experience and the use of a natural hot spring. One of the region’s most famous attractions is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park , an awesome and mostly unspoilt ecosystem that spills into Botswana and offers 3.7million hectares of conservation area. It’s sanctuary to herds of endemic antelope, the famous black-maned Kalahari lions and numerous other species.
The Greenkalahari also has many salt pans, which, apart from producing salt, are utilised for an annual fly-in of light aircraft. This is a region of contrasts and contradictions with the arid zones and the green belt formed by the Orange River. Warm hospitality is found around every corner for those venturing off the beaten track, so be warned, you may plan to visit for only a few days, and end up staying a lot longer!
The Green Kalahari Region presents a truly unique and contrasting landscape of lush green vineyards along the mighty Orange River Valley shadowed by surrounding red sand dunes and black granite rock.
The Greenkalahari is fondly referred to as the land of contrasts and is sustained by the waters of the Orange River that flows through the region for centuries, bringing life and abundance to a barren country. It is a vast region that stretches from Danielskuil in the east to Riemvasmaak in the west and from Kenhardt in the south to the Kgalagadi Transfontier Park in the north.
Upington is the largest town in the region and the second largest town in the Northern Cape Province. It is the economic centre of the region with a vibrant and pulsating multi-cultural community. In 1884 the Orange River has been claimed by the colonialists and irrigation and development followed. The fertile soil along the Orange River gave life to communities that settled in towns all along the river in towns like Keimoes, Kakamas and Upington.
The region has two world renowned national parks.
In the west the river thunders down a gorge consisting of a series of granite cataract 56m high known as the Augrabies Falls National Park.
Towards the north lies the mighty Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Africa's first transfrontier park that covers almost 3.7 million hectres of sparsely vegetated red sand dunes and dry river beds. The park provides santuary to the magnificent gemsbok, springbok, blue wildebeest, red hartbees, eland, lion, leopard, cheetah and smaller game.
A land of contrast, with lush green vegetation and irrigation farms lines the awsome Orange River as it snakes through red sand dunes and black granite rock. It is the vast open landscape that attracts tourist tired of the concrete jungles of the big cities. In the tranquillity of this semi-desert region visitors can follow the sun by day and relax in the refreshing breeze of the peaceful nights in the open, or enjoy the unique cuisine of the region at one of the many restaurants.
HIGHLIGHTS
Five highlights that should not be missed in the Green Kalahari.
This is where the Orange River is at its most impressive as it thunders down a ravine and into a poor walled by sheer granite, creating the world's sixth largest waterfall.
To the north of the Augrabies Falls, with the Orange River in the south and the dry Molopo River in the north, lies a 75 000 hectares community run mountain desert wilderness and hot spring resort.
Find warm hospitality in a remote desert area as you follow a route that links a network of guest houses, farms and game reserves and enjoy the stories and traditional dishes like roosterkoek, nabbas, venison and melktert.
Visit a truly unspoilt ecosystem and wildlife sanctuary the forms part of the largest conservation areas in the world.
A world of difference at the largest co-op wine cellers in the country. It is made up of wineries situated in Upington, Kakamas, Keimoes, Grootdrink and Groblershoop. Grape juice cellers operate from Kakamas, Kanoneiland and Grootdrink. The wine grapes originate from 794 producers along the Orange River, stretching over more than 300km from Groblershoop to Blouputs.
A visit to this region is not easily forgotten. The locals have a saying: "Once you drank from the water of the Orange River, you will always come back for more.
Upington has an airport and is linked to the South African Airways network with flights departing daily to Johannesburg and Cape Town. Excellent and not expensive bus connections to Upington from Cape Town and other cities are available through Intercape: Tel 021 3804400
Email: info@intercape.co.za.
©South African Tourism
©South African Tourism
©South African Tourism
©South African Tourism
©South African Tourism
©South African Tourism
South Africa has many faces, none as unlikely and impossible contrasting as the Northern Cape, a face that is often covered by clear, cobalt blue skies. Such a place is the region of the Green Kalahari. It is a living desert, easily accessible and an affordable destination that hold many surprises to the unsuspecting visitor. With excellent roads, friendly people and an unspoilt environment, the Greenkalahari region is the place to be.
From Upington, the capital of the Green Kalahari, your travels will take you from a raisin-making factory to a catfish farm, from lush green vineyards and wine cellars to tearooms in the Kalahari desert, from a luxurious lodge in Groblershoop to the remains of a Bushman settlement in the Verneuk Pan near Kenhardt.
Make time to spoil yourself by doing the Black Rhino Adventure, riding into the desert sunset on camel back, take on the mighty Orange River Rapids in a colorful raft, explore winding nature trails with mountain bikes, visit date palm plantations, sheep farms and ancient mission stations, take to the skies in a parasail or sit down for a moonlit five-course meal in the middle of the biggest salt pan in the Southern hemisphere!
Later you can experience the thunderous roar of the Augrabies Waterfall or the challenges of the Kalahari and Riemvasmaak 4x4 Trails. As you continue on your journey, you will meet people who genuinely open their hearts and doors to all visitors. You’ll discover unique places, rare plants and elusive animal species of all kinds – raptors, big cats, antelope, insects and lizards.
In the late afternoon you can sip cocktails at the pool, overlooking the Mighty Orange River, watch the birds come home for the night and experience the awesome call of the Fish Eagle. Soon the night will fall, bringing the chill of the night and unveiling a universe that explodes in a splendour of stars so bright that you cannot resist the temptation to reach out and touch it.
If you have grown tired of the hustle and bustle of city life and you long for the peace and quiet of a life that is rewarding and a horizon expanding in full view, you cannot find a better place than the Green Kalahari. Once you have visited the Green Kalahari, you will understand why the Kalahari is such a mysterious and tantalizing holiday destination. Once visited, preconceived ideas of heat, dust and sand make way for a desire to remain, for people who come here usually come back to stay. The Green Kalahari, home of the San people, invites you to a world of peace, tranquility and unique splendour that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Die Groen Kalahari | Groen Kalahari Akkommodasie | Akkommodasie Groen Kalahari | Kgalagadi Oorgrenspark | Augrabies Watervalle | Augrabies Nasionale Park | Oranjerivier Akkommodasie | Upington Akkommodasie | Gastehuis Akkommodasie Groen Kalahari
©South African Tourism
GREEN KALAHARI MENU
_________________
_________________
GREEN KALAHARI TOWNS
_________________
_________________
GREEN KALAHARI ATTRACTIONS
_________________
____________________
BOOK FLIGHTS AND HIRE CARS ONLINE
_________________
____________________
GREEN KALAHARI LINKS
_________________
Accommodation in the Green Kalahari click HERE
Green Kalahari accommodation | Green Kalahari guest houses | Green Kalahari | Green Kalahari attractions | Green Kalahari bed and breakfast | Green Kalahari tours | B & B in the Green Kalahari | Greenkalahari
Unfortunately we do not handle any bookings or reservations.
Please book directly with the accommodation establishment.
This page was last updated: June 29, 2008
©South African Tourism
