The Big Hole
The principal city of Kimberley is worth a visit. As well as many museums, monuments, art galleries and lovely old buildings. Nearby are some stunning rock engravings.
The Big Hole, found inside the Kimberley Mine Museum, is the largest human-made hole in the world, simply called "The Big Hole", and dug during the biggest diamond rush in history. This was the first open cast diamond mine in the area. The largest uncut diamond ever found is on display in the living museum, which is a reconstruction of the 19th century mining town, the only town in South Africa that still has a running tram.
Visit Augrabies Falls National Park
The falls are arguably the main attraction to the park, plummeting 56 m down a series of granite cataracts. The name Augrabies is derived from the Khoi word, which means "place of great noise". The remainder of the park is made up of moulded rock formations and semi-desert landscapes.
The area offers some good hiking trails and exciting whitewater rafting. Professional and amateur canoeists converge upon the Orange River to experience the excitement of this mighty river and its stunning surroundings. Nowhere is this river more impressive than at Augrabies Falls, which ranks among the world's greatest cataracts on a major river.
Augrabies Falls National Park is a popular tourist destination in the Northern Cape. Even though it is primarily a scenic park, there are small game and many species of birds. The highlight, though, is the thundering Augrabies Falls, where travellers can enjoy a multi-day hike in the park, as well as day walks, mountain bike trails and two invigorating paddling trips nearby.
The Orange River, which forms the Augrabies Falls, is a veritable oasis in this dry land. On its banks, tender young grapes grow sweet in the sun, and date palms sway in the breeze. The Orange River Wine Route, near Upington, concentrates mostly on fortified dessert wines.
The northern part of the province is Kalahari thirstland - it's not really a desert as there is so much life here, but there is little or no standing water. Here you will find the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which is a joint venture between South Africa and neighbouring Botswana. The park is inhabited by game including the enormous black-maned lions and the graceful gemsbok, or oryx.
The northwestern region with its green agricultural belt flanking the Orange River near the Atlantic ocean creates a lush contrast to the ruggedness of the Richtersveld.