Your Guide to the Best Activities around Springbok
Outdoor Adventures, Cultural Experiences, and More, Uncover the Hidden Gems of Springbok and Beyond
iReflect Church
A church accessible to all people, celebrating our unity and God given diversity, empowering our members for caring and changing communities to the glory of God.
Kinderlê
North of Steinkopf and west of the N7, this historic site marks the tragic 19th-century massacre of 32 Nama children by Bushmen while their parents attended a church service. The site remains unmarked.
Richtersveld
The Richtersveld is a rugged wilderness for self-sufficient explorers, offering 4×4 trails, hiking, and river paddling. It has five campsites with ablutions, equipped wilderness camps, and accommodations in nearby towns.
Vioolsdrift
Vioolsdrift, a Northern Cape community on the Orange River, is the border post to Namibia. It’s a stopover for Richtersveld travelers, offering river rafting, fertile farms, and stunning rock formations.
Fort at Anenous
Located midway down the Anenous Pass between Steinkopf and Port Nolloth, these ruins are stone shelters built to guard a railway viaduct during the Anglo-Boer War. General van Deventer besieged the fort in April 1902, but it was never captured. The site is unmarked.
Klipfontein Hotel
The Klipfontein Hotel, located at Anenous Pass north of the tarred road, has only its stone wall and water tower left, once used for Port Nolloth railway locomotives. The unmarked ruins are accessible by gravel road.
Pella
Pella, an oasis in Namakwa, was formerly Cammas Fonteyn. Founded by Dutch farmer Coenraad Feijt in 1776, it became a mission station in 1814, attracting notable missionaries.
Orbicule Monument
Located south of Concordia near the tarred road, this koppie features the best orbicular diorite in South Africa, a rare rock type also found in the Namaqualand Copper District.
The Synagogue
The Namaqualand Hebrew Congregation's new synagogue, framed by pepper trees, was built in 1929 with approval from the Cape Copper Company and celebrated its first Rosh Hashanah that September.
Cornish Beam Pump
This stone building in central Okiep houses an 1882 steam-driven Cornish Beam Pump, originally invented by Thomas Newcomen and improved by Watt and Trevithick, used until 1929.
Okiep Cemetery
This cemetery, located north of the village, features graves from the 19th century and the Anglo-Boer War. It is easily accessible, though unmarked, and adjacent to a Jewish cemetery.
Van der Stel Mine
Located 3 km south of Carolusberg, this mine was one of several shafts sunk by Simon van der Stel in 1685, marking the first European mining site in South Africa.
Smelter Smoke- Stack
Built in 1866 by the Cape Copper Company to smelt low-grade ore, this smelter was abandoned after 1871. Only its smoke-stack remains, located 200 m from Breë and King Streets.
Goegap Nature Reserve
The Goegap Nature Reserve, established in 1966, is located 15 km east of Springbok. Covering 36,000 ha, it is home to diverse wildlife and offers hiking trails and a 4×4 route.
First Dutch Reformed Church
Located on Sinagogue Street, this building was acquired by the DR Congregation before 1877. In 1921, it was sold to the Jewish community for use as a synagogue and cleansing center.
Klipkerk
Completed in 1921 at an estimated cost of £18,000, this prominently situated Springbok church was initiated by Dr. W.P. Steenkamp. Visits can be arranged through the local Minister.
The Blue Mine
The Blue Mine, west of Springbok, was South Africa’s first commercial mine, established by Phillips & King in 1852. It sparked the copper industry in Namaqualand and South Africa. A look-out post marks the site.
Klipkerk Concordia
The Klipkerk in Concordia, built in 1874 for Khoi people, reflects changing racial attitudes in South Africa. It later became part of the DRC's Sendingkerk, serving only coloured people, excluding whites, blacks, and Indians.
Council Tree
A milkwood tree, 27 km south of Springbok on the N7, was where Nama captains gathered for deliberations and executions. The tree was once much larger, but there is no signboard marking the site.
Messelpad & The Old Jail
The ruins of the old jail, 48 km from Springbok along the "Messelpad" by the Buffels River, housed convicts building the road. Abandoned in 1869, it's accessible by foot or 4x4, with no sign marking the site.
Horse Mill
Located 8 km west of the N7 opposite Mesklip, the farm features a well-preserved horse mill. Follow the Matjieskloof road sign. Special permission is required for entry; contact the owner for access.
Namaqua National Park
This 103,000 ha park, 21 km northwest of Kamieskroon, is open daily. Visitors can enjoy a circular drive, walking trails, floral diversity, as well as ablution and picnic facilities, and a new rest camp.
Soebatsfontein Fountain
In 1798, goatherd Hendrik Stievert was killed at this fountain by Bushmen led by Barend Goeieman, despite his pleas. The fountain is accessible by vehicle or foot, but there are no signboards.
Bowesdorp
Bowesville, later Bowesdorp, was named after Dr. Henry Bowe, the district surgeon. The church ruins visible from the N7 were Namaqualand's first church. In 1924, the church was rebuilt at Kamieskroon due to space constraints.
Kamieskroon
Kamieskroon, located just south of Springbok, lies among the granite formations of the Kamiesberg range in Northern Cape. Its origins date back to the 1860s, 7 km north of its current location.
Darter's Grave
Located 15 km south of Kamieskroon on the N7, the grave of Lieutenant C.J. Darter, who died in 1902 during the Anglo-Boer War, is Britain's smallest registered land. A pepper tree marks the site, though it’s easy to miss.
Church in Leliefontein
Located 30 km southeast of Kamieskroon at Leliefontein, this mission station was founded in 1816 on a loan farm granted to the Namaquas by Lord Cathcart. The church features neo-Gothic design and originally had a thatched roof.
Letterklip
The Letterklip, located 1 km from Garies along the Kamiesberg road, features inscribed names of early travellers and British soldiers with regimental coats of arms. The site, a national monument, is easily accessible but lacks signage.
Hondeklip Bay
Hondeklipbaai, a coastal village, exported copper until 1969, with the first shipment in 1852. After a crayfish factory was built in 1925, the village remained small due to its semi-desert environment and limited water. Today, it has 300 residents.
Kleinzee
Kleinzee, a small coastal town on the Northern Cape’s West Coast, was once a major diamond mining hub. Today, it’s known for its pristine beaches, rich marine life, and proximity to the Namaqua National Park.