The Northern Cape in South Africa is a sparsely populated, arid region in which only the toughest plants and animals survive. The Gariep (Orange River) is a lifeline through the rugged mountains and gravel plains, and feeds a flourishing agricultural community through an ingenious system of canals. Away from the reach of the furthest canals and pumping systems, the habitat is forbidding during dry years, temperatures are extreme and dust devils play along the vast plains. Despite its uninviting appearance, there is a rich diversity of plants and animals, and to the well-tuned visitor there is a magical atmosphere that can never be fully conveyed in word or image. To me, the quiver tree embodies the rugged beauty and survival spirit of this beautiful land and its people.

These are my photographs during a short trip which included two nights in Kakamas (west of Upington), three nights at Augrabies Falls National Park, and two nights in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The trip was my first with a newly acquired D200, and if time permits I will write up and post my impressions (and lessons learnt) of this fine new instrument. Rest assured that all technical shortcomings can be traced back to operator error and not the equipment used.

Stay as long as you like, and leave the door open when you leave. Kindly note that copyright is asserted for all images presented here, so do not take more than you came with.