Island Track

Keimoes is one of the Northern Cape’s most unexpectedly beautiful destinations — a small Orange River town where the river fragments into dozens of channels around tree-covered islands, creating a labyrinth of date palm plantations, riverine forest and quiet water that bears no resemblance to the surrounding Kalahari desert. The 20km island and riverbank loop winds through this extraordinary landscape on flat gravel and earth paths, crossing the river channels via small causeways and bridges, past date groves and the famous island chapel of the Keimoes Mission.

What to Expect

This is gentle, accessible cycling — no technical skill required, almost no elevation gain. The terrain is flat throughout and the paths are well-defined. What makes Keimoes remarkable is purely the setting: riding slowly through the date palm groves with the river channels shimmering between the trees, and the knowledge that 5km in any direction beyond the river, the Kalahari reasserts itself completely. The Orange River Cellars cooperative cellar near town offers wine tasting — the Kalahari wine produced in this extreme heat and alkaline desert soil has a distinct character worth experiencing.

Getting There

Keimoes is on the N14 between Upington (50km east) and Augrabies Falls (70km west). GPS: -28.6847, 20.9731. Keimoes Tourism: +27 54 461 1030.