Namaqualand Attractions 
Namaqualand occupies an area of some 48,000sq.km/18,530sq.mi in the northwest of South Africa, extending from Vanrhynsdorp in the south to the Orange River (here forming the frontier with Namibia) in the north and reaching westward to Pofadder. The southern part of this semi-desertic region is generally flat, the northern part hilly. Rainfall is low throughout Namaqualand - in the coastal areas, washed by the cold Benguela Current, as little as 50mm/2in. annually, and only slightly higher, at up to 200mm/8in., to the east of N 7, which runs through the region from north to south.
The low rainfall nourishes only a sparse covering of vegetation, and in summer the intense heat burns up every trace of green. Visitors traveling through Namaqualand in summer cannot imagine the splendor of blossom that erupts after the winter rains. Between August and October the barren landscape can suddenly be carpeted with flowers. Among the commonest flowers are various species of mesembryanthemum and Compositae (including the Namaqualand daisy). The finest show of blossom is round Springbok, but there are also magnificent displays at various points along N 7. It is not possible to predict exactly when or where the wild flower season will reach its peak, since this depends on the rainfall and climatic conditions, which differ from year to year.
When the first whites settled in Namaqualand in the mid 19th C they came in contact with Bushmen, who were already working the copper ore in the region. The first copper-mine was opened by the new arrivals near Springbok about 1852. The main copper-mining centers are now Okiep and Nababeeb. Namaqualand is also an important diamond-mining area, the first diamonds having been found in 1926 between Port Nolloth and the mouth of the Orange River in Alexander Bay. Diamonds were also found off the coast, and there are now ''diamond divers'' who, working from boats, suck up the diamond-bearing gravel from the sea floor in pipes. This section of the coast, between Kleinsee and Oranjemund, is a restricted area in which the roads are closed to normal traffic.
Other sources of income in this thinly populated region are fishing and sheep-farming.
The low rainfall nourishes only a sparse covering of vegetation, and in summer the intense heat burns up every trace of green. Visitors traveling through Namaqualand in summer cannot imagine the splendor of blossom that erupts after the winter rains. Between August and October the barren landscape can suddenly be carpeted with flowers. Among the commonest flowers are various species of mesembryanthemum and Compositae (including the Namaqualand daisy). The finest show of blossom is round Springbok, but there are also magnificent displays at various points along N 7. It is not possible to predict exactly when or where the wild flower season will reach its peak, since this depends on the rainfall and climatic conditions, which differ from year to year.
When the first whites settled in Namaqualand in the mid 19th C they came in contact with Bushmen, who were already working the copper ore in the region. The first copper-mine was opened by the new arrivals near Springbok about 1852. The main copper-mining centers are now Okiep and Nababeeb. Namaqualand is also an important diamond-mining area, the first diamonds having been found in 1926 between Port Nolloth and the mouth of the Orange River in Alexander Bay. Diamonds were also found off the coast, and there are now ''diamond divers'' who, working from boats, suck up the diamond-bearing gravel from the sea floor in pipes. This section of the coast, between Kleinsee and Oranjemund, is a restricted area in which the roads are closed to normal traffic.
Other sources of income in this thinly populated region are fishing and sheep-farming.
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Kamieskroon, South Africa
From Vanrhynsdorp N 7 continues north through an increasingly barren landscape and comes in 190km/118mi to Kamieskroon, at the foot of the Kamiesberg range of grass-covered hills, in an area famed for its show of wild flowers in summer.
Port Nolloth, South Africa
From Steinkopf, 52km/32mi north of Springbok, a road runs west to Port Nolloth (93km/58mi), going over the Anenous Pass, from which there are fine views of the coast and the sea. Port Nolloth has a population of around 6,000, attracted mainly by the diamonds found in the surrounding area. Other sources of income are fishing (crayfish) and the tourist trade - though the prospects for tourism are restricted by the cold Benguela Current, with a maximum temperature of 16°C/61°F.
Richtersveld National Park
To the north of Port Nolloth is the Richtersveld National Park (area 162,445 ha/401,239ac). In order to preserve the delicate ecological balance in this hilly desert region visitors are admitted only in exceptional cases. The area is named after a German missionary who came to this remote region in 1830. There are none of the larger mammals in the National Park, which is of interest mainly for its geological structure and its large numbers of succulents.
Springbok, South Africa
From Kamieskroon it is 68km/42mi to Springbok (pop. 8,000), ''capital'' of Namaqualand, named after the springboks which were once common in this area.
Vanrhynsdorp, South Africa
The gateway to southern Namaqualand is Vanrhynsdorp, which is reached from Cape Town on N 7 (300km/185mi) and is the terminus of the rail line from Cape Town. The town's only tourist attraction is a hothouse containing cactuses and other drought-loving plants. High-quality marble is quarried in the surrounding area.
Vredendal, South Africa
From Vanrhynsdorp R 27 runs west via Vredendal, which is surrounded by irrigated fruit plantations, to Strandfontein (78km/48mi), a coastal town which is a favorite holiday resort for the local farming population (water sports, fishing).
