The Northern Province is
a largely empty region. It is dominated by the immense and spacious plains
of the Great Karoo, covered with grass and acacia trees, and some hardy
and far-flung villages and farms.
The wide-open spaces are characterized by clear crisp skies, flamboyant
sunsets, brilliant starry nights and enormous sheep farms. To serve
the needs of the farmers, there are a few typical South African dorps
(Afrikaans for village), each dominated by an imposing Dutch Reformed
Church.
On the wild and lonely West Coast the remote fishing communities and
bird colonies lead on to flower-rich Namaqualand. In spring the
grassy plains explode with colour from millions of wild flowers. In
the far north, the landscape reaches to the quiver tree-spotted deserts
of southern Namibia. The vast expanses of arid and spacious semi-desert
known as the Richtersveld are blazed by the hot sun in summer and frozen
at night in the winter.
At Augrabies National Park, the mighty Orange River squeezes
itself dramatically through a narrow gap before flowing gently to the sea along
the South Africa, Namibia border. The green agricultural belt, which
flanks the river as it nears the Atlantic Ocean, provides a lush contrast
to the ruggedness of the Richtersveld. It’s a great spot
for a canoe ride on the Orange River and a refreshing swim.
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