The Orange River, which forms Namibia's southern border to South Africa, originates in the Drakensberg mountains and covers a distance of 1800 kilometres through South Africa, where it is nowadays called the Gariep river. The river connects with the Atlantic Ocean at Oranjemund. On its long journey, the Orange offers a variety of vistas: the stretch from the border town of Noordoewer and the rivermouth is very scenic, in places the river is seamed by rugged mountain chains and in other parts, by dune fields.
The Oranje is a quiet and peaceful river, the valley hardly touched by tourism. Accommodation is available near the border and canoe trips are on offer. The riverbed is sandy and the water clear and clean. In some areas you will find irrigation farming, the products mainly being table grapes and citrus fruits.
From Noordoewer a sandy road, often running directly along the river, leads to the mining town of Rosh Pinah. This stretch is one of the most beautiful routes in Namibia. There is free camping almost anywhere along the river.
To the west, the diamond prohibited zone begins and it stretches across a vast area along the Namibian coast. You could really find diamonds here, which is why it is prohibited to stop in the area or even leave the road. Not so long ago, new extensive diamond deposits were discovered on the farm Aussenkehr on the Oranje.
