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Painting a picture of the province
Northern Cape's art galleries
The William Humphreys Art Gallery in Kimberley.
© William Humphreys Art Gallery
Did you know?
The Wildebeestkuil Rock Art Tourism Centre is owned and managed by the !Xun and Khwe people who descended from the area's original inhabitants.
The Northern Cape stretches from the Kalahari Desert in the East to the stark Atlantic Ocean coast in the West. Renowned for its dramatic light and landscapes it is dotted with towns and cities that are dwarfed by the space around them.
Its capital, Kimberley, is home to the William Humphreys Art Gallery. This Northern Cape art gallery houses collections of Flemish art from the 16th and 17th centuries, along with British and French paintings, South African art, ceramics and antique furniture. It also collects, and exhibits art that represents South Africa's diverse heritage, including that of the Khoi and San.
Another art gallery in the Northern Cape is the Duggan-Cronin Gallery. It is part of the McGregor Museum in Kimberley and it houses a collection of work by South African photographers Alfred Duggan-Cronin, Aubrey Elliot, Jean Morris and Alice Mertens.
Alfred Duggan-Cronin started the collection when he began photographing the different tribes of South Africa between the period 1919 and 1939, before Western influences diluted traditional ways of life. Today, the gallery also displays original rock art paintings and other artefacts like beadwork, costumes, pottery, iron tools and carvings.
The Wildebeeskuil Rock Art Centre is a different kind of art gallery altogether. It is home to over 300 Khoi and San rock engravings. These engravings are estimated at between 1000 and 2000 years old. Their sophisticated lines show animated figures, geometric motifs, animals and trance forms.
These South African art galleries in the Northern Cape also serve as educational and cultural centres for the province, holding temporary exhibitions, art workshops for children, craft workshops for unemployed women, as well as lectures, video shows and concerts.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
The William Humphreys Art Gallery
Tel: +27 (0) 53 8311724/5
Email: info@whag.co.za
The McGregor Museum
Tel: +27 (0) 53 8392700
The Wildebeeskuil Rock Art Tourism Centre
Tel: +27 (0) 53 8337069
How to get here
The Northern Cape is accessible by road and by air, with flights to Kimberley from Cape Town and Johannesburg. Kimberley is 430kms from Johannesburg.
Around the area
The Northern Cape is home to several national parks, including the Augrabies National Park and the Kgalagadi and Richtersveld Transfrontier Parks.
Tours to do
Take a tour of the Wildebeeskuil Rock Art Centre which begins with a twenty minute introductory film, followed by an 800m walk that meanders up and over the hill via a number of information boards. Guides provide commentary and will answer your questions.
Get around
Self drive
Length of stay
The Northern Cape is a vast province with wonderful attractions. Try to set aside a week or more for it.
Where to stay
The Northern Cape has a wonderful choice of hotels, farmstays, B&Bs, guesthouses and backpackers.
What to eat
Try the traditional "Boerekos" - the delicious food of the Afrikaner people for which the Northern Cape is renowned.
Best buys
The shop at the Wildebeeskuil Rock Art Centre sells art and craftwork from the !Xun and Khwe community.