Kakamas is a rather small town situated in the Northern Cape of South Africa. This interesting town was originally built by a church and named after the Khoi word for ‘poor pasture’. The name “Kakamas” poorly reflects on a fertile valley in the lower Orange River, graced with vineyards, cotton and Lucerne fields.
Legend has it that grazing in the vicinity was poor and, when cattle were driven through the river’s drifts, some consistently turned on their drivers. To others, the town’s name originates from the Khoi word, “gagamas” (brown), referring to the red clay of the area with which women smear their faces. This lovely town was built on the sheer hard work and determination of a few impoverished stock farmers at the end of the 19th century.
In 1897, the Dutch Reformed Church started a colony on the farms 'Soetap' and 'Kakamas' on the banks of the gorgeous Orange River for white people who had lost everything as a result of the drought. Each farmer helped build an irrigation project, and was rewarded with a plot of land irrigated by the resulting canals and tunnels. Despite the criticism they received from qualified engineers about their building methods, the farmers continued to construct the water canals by hand.
Today, they are still used to supply the town and surrounding areas with water for irrigation. Two tunnels of 3-4m high, 2,5m wide and 97m and 172m long, were dug by hand as part of the canal building project and were completed in 1911. Many of these fascinating tunnels can be explored by visitors.

Pofadder is a small town situated in the Northern Cape of South Africa. While pofadder means, as you would expect, puff adder (a type of snake) this town was named not for a scaly reptile but after a certain Korana chief, Klaas Pofadder, who lived on Kanoneiland and died in the area when he was gunned down by local farmers. In 1918 the name was officially changed to Theronsville, but the original name stuck and was eventually re-employed. Each year, in August, Pofadder makes an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area which is covered with a carpet of Namaqualand daisies following the rains. Pofadder has several old buildings, including a Roman Catholic Church which was built by the mission. Today it runs a block making enterprise, chicken farm and a dairy, which offers employment to the local communities.
In much the same way as we refer to places off the beaten track as being in Timbuctoo, South Africans often use the name of Pofadder to similar effect to refer to any far-flung small town backwater. The very little town of Pofadder lies surrounded by rugged, sparsely populated and very scenic countryside. Here locals make their money from sheep or goats farming, and there seems little more to entice you to visit the town than its position on the main route from Upington to Springbok, just 60 kilometres from the Namibian border post.
Surrounding towns have equally sleepy backwater sounding names, like Aggeneys, Kakamas and Pella but there is something about this parched countryside that is appealing and, certainly in spring, the blanket of incredible flowers that brighten this part of the world makes a visit here worth the drive. Pofadder is, in fact a great place to overnight and the wee town provides a more than welcome break from endlessly straight roads through the Kalahari plains.

Pofadder has quite a history too. It might be little more than a couple of tar roads, a café, church and hotel, but there was quite a resistance mounted by the original Koranna people (offshoots of the Khoi-Khoi) who made this part of the country their home back when a mission station was set up here in 1875. A few fresh water springs, called the Koranna springs, were what attracted these people here originally, and a town soon followed in 1918, officially called Theronsville. Pofadder, however, stuck, and the official name soon followed suit and reverted.
In August this is a great little base from which to explore the Namaqualand daisies, and there is a hiking trail, called the Pofadder hiking trail, in the vicinity.
For the adventurous Two guided trails of 25 km, wind around the dunes, mainly traversing the spines and offering panoramic views over the plains for either 4x4 Vehicles or Quads. During the winter rain season these plains are covered in colourful Namaqualand flowers. Duration of the route varies between 2 - 5 hours, depending on the number of vehicles. Single as well as group bookings are welcome with a maximum of 12 vehicles. A lovely 4x4 experience in the Bushmanland for all sand lovers between rich, red dunes interspersed with rocky outcrops rising above a sea of grassy plains. Camping site available with hot shower, running toilet, braai facilities and shaded camping areas. The route caters for drivers of various levels of experience with interesting technical challenges.

Namaqualand's largest town, is Springbok. You can enjoy the wild flowers and dramatic landscapes of the Northern Cape, a South African destination that stands apart for its rugged beauty. The pretty town of Springbok is found in the heart of the Namaqualand within spitting distance of other typical Namaqualand towns like Alexander Bay, Pofadder, Garies, Kleinzee and Port Nolloth, 570 kilometres north of Cape Town.
Originally called Springbokfontein, Springbok is the administrative capital of the region as well as the last major town in South Africa on the only main road north, before the border into Namibia. Springboks perfect position as a stopover en route to Namibia and its repute as the flower capital of Namaqualand have placed Springbok on the map. It’s not difficult to imagine the prominence of Springbok antelope in the narrow valley wedged between the high granite domes of the Klein Koperberge (copper mountains) that must have lead to the town’s rather obvious name.
By all accounts the attractive town of Springbok is formed around a central koppie or hill, known by locals as ‘klipkoppie’ (stone hill) that was used by the Boers during the Second Boer War as a fort for its incredible vantage point. Views from here across the valley are beautiful, as are the examples of flowers during spring every year that not only blossom on the little hill but in the surrounding scrubland as well. The koppie is also the site of a modest stone church built in 1921 and the remains of the walls of the original fort.
There’s enough reason to spend a couple of days here to visit; the Skilpad Wildflower Nature Reserve, particularly in August and September, the Augrabies Waterfall, the Goegap Nature Reserve, the Blue mine - Springbok’s first mine, and the war graves from the Anglo Boer War.

The small settlement of Lekkersing, established in 1926 by Ryk Jasper Cloete, lies 60 km east of Port Nolloth. It is said that its name (which means to sing joyfully or beautifully) originated from the fact that a small fountain in the area 'sang', so beautifully that an early resident promptly named the village. Incidentally the residents of Lekkersing are very good singers! Close to the town an exquisite red sand dune also "sings" after a rare rain and can be clearly heard resonating in a deep and ancient voice.
Lekkersing is nestled in the hills of the Richtersveld, the faulted, age-old lava landscape of rugged mountain ranges interspersed by wide plains. Temperatures up to 53 degrees Celsius have been measured in this area, but the trees at Koersdap shelter you from the harshest sunshine.
The old stone mine where the diamond quartzite was mined was established in 1964, and has produced exquisite slabs of stone in earthy reds and gold, used for tiling all over the world. Extraordinary dendrite formations are sometimes visible on these natural slates. The dendrites are patterns that look extremely similar to plant fossils, but they are in fact far older and have the same chemical composition as the snowflake crystal.
Discover how flagstones and tombstones are cut out of quartzite at the mine, or explore the Skurwehoog caves, 30 km from Lekkersing on the road to Kuboes. If you are interested in local craft, the community workgroup 'Rusoord' will show you how to make 'riempie' chairs, 'velskoene', 'matjies' huts, dresses and 'kappies'.

What today is essentially a fishing village, Port Nolloth lies on the bay known by the indigenous Namaqua people as; Aukwatowa- (where the water took away the old man) - it was the last landfall the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias sighted, before he and his ship were blown off course and out to sea for thirteen days.
Port Nolloth lies 144 kilometres northwest of Springbok, and 90 kilometres west of Steinkopf. Port Nolloth started its life as a railway junction for the copper-mining industry, and subsequently as the site for diamond mining, but today serves mainly as a fishing village for the crayfishing industry (or rock lobster), and for small-scale diamond recovery; large-scale shipping came to an end as diamond discoveries have gradually declined in the area.
Port Nolloth is as laidback as it sounds. Nothing much happens very fast here, and as a result, holiday makers are attracted to the town to soak up the worriless atmosphere, and the sun. McDougalls Bay is home to clean beaches and calm seas, if a little cold, that offer hours of swimming, walking, kayaking and boating time; and you can fish for snoek or yellowtail if you have a permit.
Port Nolloth and its neighbouring informal settlement, Sizamile make a good stop off if you are at all interested in the Namaqua Flower Route, or a visit to the Richtersveld National Park. Walking tours around Sizamile are on offer by local guides; the local museum is filled with history, and a trip inland to the little town of Lekkersing, just north of Port Nolloth, offers a ‘look in’ to a community workgroup ‘rusoord’ where local craft in the form of ‘velskoene’, mats, huts, dresses and ‘riempie’ chairs is available.

Saldanha is a seaside village that lies in the Northern most corner of Saldanha bay - the largest and deepest natural bay in the Country. The Saldanha accommodation available to travelers from all over the World includes guest houses, lodges, bed and breakfasts, and hotels. Saldanha is a seaside village that lies in the northern most corner of Saldanha Bay - the largest and deepest natural bay in South Africa. About 110 km up the Cape West Coast from Cape Town, the picturesque harbour town of Saldanha is essentially motivated by export and the fishing industry, and crayfish, fish, mussels, oysters and seaweed drive the economy.
The sheltered Harbour here is dominated by the Sishen-Saldanha iron-ore project and is home to a Naval training base, the South African Military Academy and a whole fleet of fishing vessels that add a particular character to the bay.
This largely unspoilt part of the world is also home to seagulls, cormorants, Cape gannets, duikers and terns that tend to outnumber humans by about a million to one and eco-tourism is popular.
The first European sea traders arrived in Saldanha about 500 years ago and there is fossilised evidence that man may have been present here as many as 117 000 years ago - the West Coast Fossil park has one of the largest displays of late Tertiary vertebrate fossils in the world.
Saldanha bay and Langebaan lagoon, on the south side of the bay, are very popular amongst the yachting fraternity and game fishing devotees - yellowtail and tuna are easy catches and snoek is available in winter.
There is plenty of fresh sea air in the bay, with its five islands and abundant sea life, and it is a favourite amongst kite surfers and skiers and offers unrivalled fishing, deep sea diving and whale watching opportunities.

The Cape West Coast of South Africa is known for its raw, rugged beaches and spectacular untouched landscapes. Although most of the little fishing towns dotted along the West Coast are only an hour or two from Cape Town, they seem to be untouched relics of yesteryear. And, it is within this setting that the Tsaarsbank Beach can be found. This beach is situated in the West Coast National Park, and is strewn with rounded boulders and fascinating rock pools. These are awesome for children and other adventurers to climb and explore for hours. The water is chilly, but manageable, especially on balmy summer days.
Between August and October, the Tsaarsbank Beach is an excellent place from which to watch the whales as they pass the shores of the Western Cape. These are most commonly southern right and humpback whales, but may occasionally include killer whales too.
This is also a fantastic place to go bird watching, as the West Coast National Park is home to more than 250 bird species.
For those visitors that want to explore at a slower pace, there are hiking and mountain biking trails near Tsaarsbank Beach. Of course, walks along the beach are also fantastic for anyone craving the cool sea spray on their face and the feel of the sand underfoot.
To make the most out of a day at Tsaarsbank Beach, there are great braai facilities available, with breathtaking views of the ebb and flow of the Atlantic. Light a fire and relax with a cup of coffee and this magnificent view until the coals are ready for some excellent local meat. No alcohol is permitted here but, with this setting, it won’t be missed. From the beach, there is a three kilometre walk to get to the impressive shipwreck of the Pantalis A Lemos, which ran aground in 1978.
A small conservation fee is charged for entering the park. Nearby neighbours include the quaint seaside villages of Langebaan, Yzerfontein and Paternoster.

The West Coast National Park is situated just inland of Saldanha Bay and its secluded Harbour. The exquisite Langebaan Lagoon is, undoubtedly, the jewel of this treasure trove, thanks to its breath-taking beauty and the variety of watersports that it offers.

The lagoon is only a few kilometers from the powerful ebb and flow of the Atlantic Ocean, which crashes against rocks that glitter with enormous mussel shells, or laps lazily onto the sandy shores. To describe the allure of the West Coast National Park is to celebrate how incredibly multifaceted it is. The cyan-coloured water of the vast lagoon meets the postcard-perfect white of the sand, rugged scrub erupts into a mosaic of colourful wild flowers every spring, and the wildlife that calls this home ranges from antelope and predators on land to the magnificent fish, mammals and sharks of the Atlantic Ocean. This is a place of contrast and magic – a place where colour, scale and variety all challenge your imagination. Head to Postberg where you can do the Postberg Flower Trail – a wonderful walk through a section of the park open only for a couple of months every year (August and September) during the flower season. Situated in the north-west section of the Park, Postberg also has a large concentration of game including, Eland, Cape Mountain Zebra, Bontebok and Springbuck. It is also a great birding area with many raptors showing well, including African Black Harrier. The viewpoint from the top of Posberg provides a 360 degree vista of the Park and surrounding areas, including Saldanha Bay and Langebaan Lagoon. The large granite boulders provide shelter for many different plants and smaller mammals species, such as Rock Hyrax (Dassie). Plankiesbaai and Uitkyk areas inside Posberg offer dedicated picnic areas and ablutions. You may also be able to spot Southern Right Whales and the endemic Heaviside's Dolphin along the coastal sections of the Park.