Southern Africa 360 recently launched its six-day Northern Cape: Kalahari Explorer itinerary, which explores the Green Kalahari, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Kalahari.
The company says most visitors to the Northern Cape currently are domestic self-drive tourists, which is seasonal and concentrated during the South African school holiday months. Southern Africa 360 says there is a drive to promote the province as an alternative destination for foreign tourists to consider when coming to South Africa.
With this in mind, it has focused on the Green Kalahari and the Kalahari Red Dune Route, which showcase the region through a wide range of activities and offers the opportunity to experience regional cultures and folklore.
On the tour, guests can explore the region’s varied landscapes and include a visit to Augrabies Falls, a dip in a natural hot spring, a paddle down the Orange River, sand-boarding on the red dunes, game drives in Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park and the chance to learn ancient tracking skills from the Khomani San Bushmen.
Accommodation includes African Vineyard Guest House in the Green Kalahari where guests spend two nights, !Xaus Lodge in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park for two nights and Kgalagadi Lodge in the Kalahari for one night.
Upington is the gateway to this region and there are daily flights between Johannesburg and Upington, as well as Cape Town and Upington on Airlink. Most of the major car-hire companies are present at Upington Airport, including 4x4 rentals. Southern Africa 360 says it is possible to drive to Upington, which is about 800 kilometres from both Johannesburg and Cape Town. However, for those with limited time, Southern Africa 360 recommends flying.
The Kalahari region experiences high daytime temperatures in the summer months between September and May, with temperatures regularly reaching and exceeding 40C. In winter the nighttime temperatures can fall to below zero, but the days tend to be warm, making this an ideal time to visit according to Southern Africa 360. Rainy season is between November and April and thunderstorms are common at this time – usually short, heavy bursts of rainfall in the afternoons.
Southern Africa 360 has taken a special interest in the Northern Cape, viewing the province as one that is up and coming and, as such, recently hosted ten travel agents from the Nordic region, in partnership with South African Tourism and Northern Cape Tourism.
For more information, contact Southern Africa 360’s Product Manager, Nikki Thaver on pdm@southernafrica360.com.
