Blogs from Northern Cape, South Africa, Africa - page 7

Kalahari

Africa » South Africa » Northern Cape » Upington December 13th 2007

Lonely cyclist

Euro Africa

A few photos of the dry southern extension of the Kalahari. ... read more

Kalahari Bound

Africa » South Africa » Northern Cape » Upington June 12th 2007

On The Boulder Pile

explorerkeith

After we arrived in Pretoria and found our hostel, which was owned by the daughter of the lady that owned Greatbatch, the hostel we had stayed at in Kimberly, we started to relax - It was a big change going from the peaceful, wilderness of Kruger National Park to the busy streets of Pretoria, the capital of South Africa. We had intended on going to the South Africa vs. England rugby game, but, due to a problem getting tickets, we ended up watching the festivities at a sports bar a short walk from the hostel. My friends were big rugby fans and they did their best to teach me the particulars of the sport, but, by the time the game had ended, I only had a marginally better understanding of the strange, but popular game. It ... read more

Hanekom Sangster Richtersveld Expedition

Africa » South Africa » Northern Cape » Orange River April 10th 2007

Walkies

Elainie

I'm adding this old trip to the Richtersveld just to get used to adding entries... Jason and I did this trip with my dad and Wanda, and our puppy dog..she was only 4 months old and already on the 4x4 scene! This was our very first 4x4 trip in a 4x2 bakkie! I guess it was a success due to the drivers' skills:) Driving on soft sand at Alexander Bay and then later on the dried up river beds was awesome! But nothing prepared us for the mountain rock climbing that laid ahead...and it was only us in our 4x2 and my dad in his Toyota 4x4...far far away from any help or any people ...yikes!!!! We sailed through it though, and before we knew it we were hooked on this new '4x4' hobby. So not ... read more

Ceres to Orange River

Africa » South Africa » Northern Cape » Orange River October 2nd 2006

Jen with Pim at Orange River camp site

jenron

Up at 5:15 in pitch dark for packing and duties, then 6am breakfast prepared on the camp fire by our Kenyan cook Joseph as day broke. We left then travelled through the dry and barren landscape of Namaqualand, stopping for supplies at Springbok (mainly alcohol). It was a long days drive. We arrived at the Orange river which forms the border with Namibia here but kept on the S. African bank westwards to our campsite right on the riverbank. We pitched our heavy duty tents and relaxed by the river seeing several interesting birds including a colourful Red Bishop. After welcome tea we relaxed again by the campfire. First mini dram overnight when a Dutch girl, Patricia cut her hand badly in the bar and had to go to hospital back in Springbok.... read more

The Kalahari Caper

Africa » South Africa » Northern Cape » Augrabies Falls National Park September 9th 2006

Back it up!

Schwann

Distilling some kind of message for future historians while offering entertainment at the same time is not as easy as I'd once thought, or maybe it will be after I get back from the Kalahari as I have been persuaded by my AD, Mike, and my best friend, Mike, (USA botanist), to take a 'quick' trip up to Augrabies Falls, tomorrow morning, to the Southern edge of the Kalahari desert, for 6 days. The Kalahari is reputedly the 'cradle of mankind', or it was last time I looked, but things change and anyways, the kalahari, 'is' one of Earth's most desolate and primordial places, whatever your scientific belief, so I'm taking extra fuel and water just in case. We'll shoot some scenes in the desert, and also of the falls. There may be beautiful flower displays ... read more

Kimberley

Africa » South Africa » Northern Cape » Kimberley August 6th 1968

The Big Hole at Kimberley

AndrewHL

The LAGEOS group flew from Johannesburg to Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province to view the famous diamond mining operation. (Not that we saw any actual diamonds!) The first evidence of the mining operation is the "Big Hole" visible from the air. The Big Hole was an open-air diamond mine dug by hand to a depth of 747 feet (246 m). Excavation began in 1872, and the mine continued to yield until 1914. The Kimberley Mine’s headgear is set up as a museum. As was often the case with Valene’s trips in this era, Kimberley was a fly-in, fly-out stop. The group arrived by air from Johannesburg, toured the mine premises, and flew onward to Cape Town the same day.... read more

Brief history of South Africa

After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjug...more history

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