The Quiver Tree Route
The Orange River makes a green ribbon through this dry corner of the Northern Cape. This three-day trip takes its time between Upington and Augrabies, with farm stalls, wine, local food, nurseries and two nights beside the river.
Highlights include:
- Having breakfast at Upington Kalahari Padstal
- Visiting the Kalahari Oranje Museum and Raisins SA
- Having lunch at Die Kerkmuis before tasting at Orange River Cellars
- Stopping for snacks beneath the camel thorn trees at Plaastoe
- Visiting Bezalel Wine & Brandy Estate
- Browsing home baking and dried fruit at Kanoniki Padstal
- Staying beside the Orange River at Ikaia River Lodge
- Visiting Koms Quiver Tree Nursery
- Buying sheep pies and preserves at Die Pienk Padstal
- Seeing Northern Cape stone turned into jewellery at Bushmanland Minerals
- Staying at Khamkirri
- Having brunch at Bakplaas & Bubbles
- Watching the river plunge into the gorge at Augrabies Falls
South Africa road trip from Upington Airport to Augrabies Falls National Park (140 km, about 2 hours driving). Plan this trip with Sideroads Africa.
Stops along the way
Day 1
- Upington Kalahari Padstal: Orange River valley stall offering Kalahari raisins, dried fruit, and wines
- Kalahari Oranje Museum: Historic 1875 mission church museum in Upington with pioneer domestic displays and the famous bronze donkey monument.
- Raisins SA: Industry home of South African raisin growers in the Orange River valley — the crop that built the Green Kalahari
- Die Kerkmuis Restaurant: Restaurant at the Orange River Cellars tasting centre serving local breakfasts, hearty lunches and tasting platters.
- Orange River Cellars: World's second-largest wine co-operative in Upington — wine tasting and tours on the Green Kalahari.
- Plaastoe: Outdoor café and playpark 7 km from Upington on the N14 under camel thorn trees beside a red Kalahari dune
- Bezalel Wine & Brandy Estate: Green Kalahari wine cellar distillery and farm-to-table restaurant with the SABF Brandy Home and Garden Café
- Kanoniki Padstal: Kanoneiland farm stall on the R359 — home baking dried fruit light meals wine and a playpark
- Ikaia River Lodge: Four-star Orange River lodge near Keimoes with chalets camping restaurant and fishing from the banks
Day 2
- Koms Quiver Tree Nursery: Registered indigenous-plant nursery near Neilersdrift selling protected quiver trees
- Ietsie van Als: Keimoes shop for pickled products and platteland pantry goods on the Quiver Tree Route
- Ukuvuka Farmstall: N14 farm stall and coffee shop at Loxtonvale between Keimoes and Kakamas — succulent garden breakfasts and jams
- Die Pienk Padstal: Iconic bright-pink Kakamas roadside stall on the N14 selling dried fruit biltong preserves and famous sheep pies.
- Bushmanland Minerals: Kakamas workshop turning Northern Cape semi-precious stone into jewellery sculpture and landscaping
- De Kelder Farm Stall & Wine Tasting: Orange River Cellars Kakamas farm stall bistro — wine tasting platters roosterkoek and local dried fruit
- Khamkirri: Orange River lodge near Augrabies Falls with self-catering cabins, glamping, camping, rafting and fishing.
Day 3
- Bakplaas & Bubbles: Kakamas coffee shop with art gifts baking supplies laundromat and haberdashery
- Augrabies Falls National Park: Where the mighty Orange River thunders down a 56-meter granite gorge in a deafening spectacle.
- Augrabies Falls Rest Camp: Arid park campsite located right near the roaring Augrabies Waterfalls