The Vaal, Orange, Riet, Modder and Harts - give sustenance to Kimberley¹s semi-arid hinterland. The Vaalbos National Park and Witsand Nature Reserve are complemented by a patchwork of private game farms. Together, these offer some of South Africa¹s best, off-the-beaten track, opportunities in nature tourism - games drives, photography, bird-watching, fly-fishing, hiking, mountain-biking, rafting and hunting.

Few eco-destinations in the Northern Cape are as scenic as this reserve and even fewer boast the luxury self-catering accommodation it offers visitors. The main feature of this reserve is the sensual, flowing white Oroaring¹ dunes - the sand actually makes a growling sound when disturbed - that stretch over a distance of 9 kilometers. The dunes are twenty to sixty metres high. The Reserve, teeming with bird-life, offers a ground-level bird-hide at a water hole, horse-riding, donkey cart drives, two short 4x4 trails, an off road motorbike trail and conference facilities. The Witsand Reserve is a top spot for birdwatching, hiking, mountain-biking and photography.

Situated next to Longlands near Barkly West and Delportshoop, this national park is the only one where you will find four different ecological systems within its borders - Karoo, Kalahari and Grassveld. It also incorporates the only stretch of the Vaal River that is protected as a national park. All of this provides for a wide variety of game including the endangered black rhinoceros and tsessebe. Accommodation is provided in the form of charming self-catering chalets while visitors are encouraged to go on the guided night game drives.

Proclaimed as a Natural Heritage Site but worthy of international status, this pan is a Omust¹ for bird enthusiasts. Some 186 species have been recorded here, including the lesser and greater flamingo. At least 3 000 flamingoes can be seen daily as they forage in the gently rippling water.