Springbok in Namaqualand

The town of Springbok

Obviously, you really do need a lot of time ahead of you during your trip to South Africa before you decide to visit the Northern Caperegion. If such is the case, you won't regret stopping off in the small, pretty town of Springbok, the capital of the Namaqualand region.

Far from the hectic big cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban or Pretoria, Springbok seems very peaceful and the easy-going way of life there is almost palpable.

All the surrounding region is nicknamed "the country of thousands of flowers" and the city is named after the springboks, the antelopes that are the emblem of the country. From there you can organise your excursions in the region, or simply take the time to enjoy the simple and quiet pleasures of daily life in a small town in the Northern Cape region.

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Flickr@ChrisPreen

In the region

Once you have your set down your bags, settled into your accommodation and have done a tour of the town, you will certainly want to go a little further into the surrounding area.

First, as the region is famous for its many plants and flowers, you can visit the Namaqua National Park, where you will find almost 4000 different species of plants. The Skilpad circuit is a great classic of local tourism and can be done very easily in around two hours. Magical.

You'll experience the same amazement at Goegab Nature Reserve. The landscapes are simply gorgeous, especially when the flowers lend their colours to this extraordinary landscape. You can then choose between hiking, mountain biking or an all-terrain vehicle.

And as the region is also known for its diamond mines, a visit to the Mine Museum can be worthwhile.