GO! GHAAP ROUTE | Northern Cape South Africa (2024)

Known as the “oasis of the Kalahari”, Kuruman is an interesting destination for the curious traveller to visit.

The town is home to a famous natural geological feature known as the Eye of Kuruman, said to be one of the biggest natural springs in the southern hemisphere. The Tswana name for the fountain isGa-segonyana(“calabash”), from which the local municipality derives its name. The first European to discover the spring, in 1801, was English artist Samuel Daniell, who was part of the Truter-Somerville expedition to meet the southern Tswana people.

This natural spring delivers about 20-million litres of clean, clear water daily to Kuruman. It also supplies water to the Kuruman River and two 7km canals – even during the dry season.

The Wonderwerk Cave is an archaeological wonder believed to be at least two billion years old. The large cave is located 45km south of Kuruman and 43km north of Daniëlskuil.

Research conducted by archaeologists at the cave, which extends 140m horizontally into the base of the Kuruman Hills, suggests the presence ofearlyhuman activity.Visitors to this preserved heritage site will get to see fossils dating back hundreds of thousands of years, Stone Age axes and cleavers, painted ostrich-egg shells, and San rock paintings.

The Kuruman Hills are also worth visiting when touring this route. They are known for their large quantities of blue asbestos or crocidolite, which prompted mining in the Ghaap region from the 1930s until 1980. This was halted after the serious and often deadly health risks of asbestos mining were discovered.

Linksfontein Safari Lodge is located on the Ghaap Plateau near Campbell, approximately 115km from Kimberley. The lodge is some 22000ha in size and is home to about 38 different animal species, including kudu, giraffe and steenbuck.

There are nine en-suite double bedrooms with air-conditioning facilities; indoor and outdoor barbecue areas; a swimming pool; and an assortment of outdoor activities.Linksfontein Safari Lodge also offers safari game drives, a spa and a conference venue.

For information, contact +27(0)871353405 or email[emailprotected].

Kuruman Charity Run:The annual Kuruman Charity Run is one of the biggest annual motorbike runs in the region. The three-day event features mass rides, bike stunts and a music festival.

For more information, keep an eye on theDesperados MCCFacebook page or phone Selao at +27(0)731721616.

Kgalagadi Jazz Festival:The Kgalagadi Jazz Festival is a highly anticipated music festival that takes place at the Mothibistad Stadium in Kuruman every year.The festival puts the province firmly on the map with a line-up that features local legends on the jazz music scene.

For more information, contact +27(0)608402943 or visit theKgalagadi Jazz FestivalFacebook page.

Moffat Mission museum:The missionary church was restored in 1938 to mark its centenary, and visitors can view a cast-iron printing press that was used to print the first Bibles translated from English to Tswana by Robert Moffat. There’s also a cemetery where missionaries and their children were buried, as well as an ox-wagon that was used to transport timber from hundreds of kilometres away to build the church.

For more information, contact +27(0)537122645.