A journey along the N7 of some 550km will lead you through some of the most
astonishing landscapes and, if optimum rains have fallen,
to the awesome natural ‘spring flowers' which miraculously
pop out of the semi-desert in Namaqualand around August each year.
Ideally, the R27 should be followed just
out of Cape Town as this coastal road takes you to Melkbosstrand (beach walks), Yzerfontein (whales and fllowers), Darling (flowers, wines and Tannie Evita's Theatre), the West
Coast National Park and Langebaan, Vredenburg (golf), Saldanha (flowers and whales), St
Helena Bay (whales, fishing and flowers) and Velddrif (birds). Despite recent housing estate developments
along this coastline, it still maintains an ‘away-from-it-all'
atmosphere. If you are returning to Cape Town, take the R45 to Malmesbury, the heart of the Swartland grain-belt, to join the N7.
To continue north along the N7, take the R399 from Velddrif to Piketberg where rugged mountains shelter bountiful valleys filled
with wheat and deciduous fruits. Continue to Citrusdal (where there is a route to Ceres on the R303 over spectacular passes),
home to the oldest orange tree in the country and wine cellars,
and 60km further Clanwillam, the centre of Rooibos – a natural, pure tea that is
high in anti-oxidants. Both towns lie at the foot of the Cederberg
Wilderness Area, alive with San rock art and unique rock formations.
70km west on the R364 lies Lambert's
Bay with its Bird Island, itinerant whales,
4X4 desert trail and beach restaurants.
Look out for the wild clover after which Klawer is named and continue to Vanrhynsdorp, some 300km from Cape
Town, framed by the fynbos–studded Matsikamma
Mountains with spectacular sandstone formations, and gateway
to the vast semi-desert plains of Namaqualand which hold one-third of the world's succulent plants.
Garies is the first Northern Cape town you encounter and is
noted for its display of spring flowers, as is Kamieskroon 67km south of Springbok. The nearby Paulshoek community offer a fascinating cultural experience in
matjeshutte (reed huts) together with traditional cuisine. Springbok, notable for its kokerboom trees, is the hub of Namaqualand
and the Info Office is a mine of information during the busy ‘flower season' (July/September). It is also a perfect stopover
to the Richtersveld National Park - one of the world's most
awesome yet fragile ecosystems – to be accessed only by seriously
self-reliant, fully equipped, 4X4 travellers! The Vioolsdrif
borderpost with Namibia is 115km north of Springbok .
42km north of Springbok on the N7 is a turn-off to Port
Nolloth where crayfish and rock lobster are
almost always on the menu. This is also the only access point
to the ‘diamond' town of Alexander
Bay. Suggested stop or stretch towns on the N7: Melkbosstrand, Yzerfontein, Langebaan, Saldanha, St Helena Bay, Ceres, Lambert's Bay, Vanrhynsdorp, Springbok and Port Nolloth 85km off N7
More Routes:
JOHANNESBURG - BLOEMFONTEIN - COLESBERG ON N1
COLESBERG - BEAUFORT WEST - CAPE TOWN ON N1
BLOEMFONTEIN - EAST LONDON ON N6
BLOEMFONTEIN – LESOTHO ON N8
JOHANNESBURG - KIMBERLEY - BEAUFORT WEST ON N12
CAPE TOWN - PORT ELIZABETH ON N2 : THE GARDEN ROUTE
PORT ELIZABETH – CRADOCK – COLESBERG ON N10 : THE KAROO
PORT ELIZABETH - EAST LONDON - WILD COAST - DURBAN ON N2
CAPE TOWN – SPRINGBOK ON N7: THE WEST COAST
JOHANNESBURG – DRAKENSBERG - DURBAN ON N3
JOHANNESBURG – SWAZILAND – NORTH COAST ON N17/N2
JOHANNESBURG – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – MOZAMBIQUE ON N4
JOHANNESBURG – MESSINA - ZIMBABWE ON N1
JOHANNESBURG/PRETORIA – MAGALIESBURG - BOTSWANA ON N4
JOHANNESBURG – UPINGTON – SPRINGBOK ON N14 |
