The Northern Cape is an intriguing place of harsh, arid terrain with diamonds in her belly and icy Atlantic waters with shipwrecks as her play things.  Few holidaymakers venture through here save for the wildflower phenomenon in spring and the desert road to Namibia, yet despite her tough, 4x4s-allowed-only front, she has captivated many souls with her striking beauty, warmth, and step-back-in-time innocence.

Here are 20 instagrams of the Northern Cape that will have you reconsidering your next holiday destination.

Would much rather be here right now #karoo #karoofarm #farmboy #northerncape #thisissouthafrica #southafrica #not4ordinary #farm #sutherland #fraserburg #stars #stonewall #starryskies #instapic #travelgram #picoftheday #pictureart #vividcolours #nightskies #star #lamp #simplelife #farmlife #serenity #simplicity #milkyway #dream #lantern #romantic

A photo posted by Sigmaσri (@sigmaori) on Feb 16, 2015 at 2:40am PST

Spraying some good stuff! #gauno #foliar #viticulture #farming #northerncapewines #nouboerons #tannat A photo posted by Bertie Coetzee (@bioboertie) on Nov 19, 2014 at 9:22am PST

Floating between South Africa and Namibia. Orange river #meetsouthafrica

A photo posted by Caspar Diederik (@storytravelers) on Jun 3, 2014 at 11:51pm PDT

THIS light…it does something to a person… #Kgalagadi #wildlife #NorthernCape #meetsouthafrica A photo posted by Afribird (@ditippingwoods) on Aug 4, 2014 at 6:07am PDT

Big nests and bigger skies. Can’t wait to be back in the #Kalahari.

A photo posted by @j__ballesteros & @kerring_lee (@passthemap) on Feb 8, 2015 at 12:05pm PST

Aristea Shipwreck near Hondeklipbaai. It was built in Scotland as a fishing vessel and served as a mine sweeper during World War II. It ran aground in 1945. A photo posted by Ivan van Niekerk (@ivan.images) on Jan 17, 2015 at 4:08am PST

Beautiful detail on this old Victorian style house, tucked away in a Karoo town #karoo #thisissouthafrica #southafrica #southafricaza #southafricathroughmyeyes #menseselense #roadtrip #architecture #victorian #stefan

A photo posted by @Stefan du Toit (@stefan_dut) on Jan 28, 2015 at 10:11pm PST

#sunrise over the #augrabieswaterfall #augrabiesnationalpark #southafrica #not4ordinary #thisissouthafrica #northerncape #gorge #water #waterfall #river #nature #southafricantourism #namaqualand #dramaticlandscape #mightywater #spectacular #beautifulsouthafrica #travelgram #roadtrip #vividcolours #colours #picoftheday #rocks A photo posted by Sigmaσri (@sigmaori) on Nov 21, 2014 at 12:55pm PST

Black backed Jackal #jackal #blackbackedjackal #dog #k9 #animal #wildlife #safari #kalahari #kalaharitransfrontierpark #kgalagadi #northerncape #southafrica #africa #canon #canonwildlife #canon7d #canonwildlifephotography #wildlifephotography

A photo posted by Mike McCrae (@mccraewildlife) on Feb 11, 2015 at 8:37am PST

#Tephrocactus #Articulatus #notsureaboutthename #cactus #succulent #nature #naturelovers #flora #botany #outdoors #alien #thorns #green #scary #springbok #northerncape #southafrica #kindalookslikeascarypinecone A photo posted by Rudi Conradie (@rudi_conradie) on Jan 16, 2015 at 7:47am PST

#ford #ranger #southafrica #northerncape #kalahari #4×4 #dunes

A photo posted by carine (@carinevdb14) on Jan 5, 2015 at 6:43am PST

#bulls ready for the #auction in October #bonsmaras #nouboerons A photo posted by Bertie Coetzee (@bioboertie) on Aug 19, 2014 at 11:37pm PDT

Getting up close and personal with a gemsbok #Kgalagadi #NorthernCape #wildlife #meetsouthafrica

A photo posted by Afribird (@ditippingwoods) on Aug 5, 2014 at 11:41pm PDT

The best part of planning a trip is the anticipation of what could be. In a little over a month, we’re going to drive around the edge of #SouthAfrica for our honeymoon. It’s been a dream of ours for some time and we’re pretty flipping excited. We’ll be passing through the amazing #Richtersveld in the #NorthernCape again. Will the weather play along this time? Will we find the birds we want? Will the #yellowfish be a bit more obliging? Only time will tell. A photo posted by @j__ballesteros & @kerring_lee (@passthemap) on Feb 4, 2015 at 10:41am PST

Spirit of a Rhino at Wildebeeskuil #northerncape #roadtrip #rhino #wildebeeskuil #southafrica #thisisssouthafrica #southafricathroughmyeyes #menseselense #yourjourneystartshere #rocketching #stefan #southafricaza

A photo posted by @Stefan du Toit (@stefan_dut) on Jan 23, 2015 at 12:05am PST

Windmill, clouds, open veld, farm life, fresh air! What more can a girl ask for?? #southafrica #northerncape #FarmGoedemoed #farm #clouds #cloudporn #lovesouthafrica #southafricanskies #places4photography A photo posted by Anina (@aninaclements) on Jan 25, 2015 at 12:56am PST

#tortoise in the #road #teaching the #kids about #nature #outdoors #messingaround #karoofarm #farmboy #sutherland #fraserburg #southafrica #thisissouthafrica #karoo #wildlife #picoftheday #not4ordinary #instapic #sepia #travelgram #roadtrip #igers #mylifeinpictures #myhappyplace #openskies #clouds #children #innocence #menofoutdoors @menofoutdoors #mylittlenephew

A photo posted by Sigmaσri (@sigmaori) on Jan 27, 2015 at 11:46pm PST

#weirdthings #travels #northerncape #orania #koeksuster #monument #afrikaner #culture #weirdcountry #lovethiscountry #southafrica A photo posted by liesl burger (@leelylum) on Feb 16, 2015 at 9:11am PST

Good morning world!!! Do what makes you happy Be with who makes you smile Laugh as much as you breath Love as long as you live #southafrica #farm #northerncape #loves_southafrica #meetsouthafrica #thisissouthafrica #igsouthafrica #instagram_southafrica #lovemylife #horsecarriage #iphoneonly #lovemylife

A photo posted by Anina (@aninaclements) on Feb 19, 2015 at 8:07pm PST

A frame of the #MeetSouthAfrica Video (check link in profile). Looking out over Orange River toasting on life, near the Namibian border South Africa with @traveldudes, @expertvagabond @mzansigirl @budgettraveller @simlewis

A photo posted by Caspar Diederik (@storytravelers) on Feb 4, 2015 at 8:29am PST

I’m certainly inspired to take a road trip through the Northern Cape! How about you?

Let us know which other Northern Cape instagrams should be on this list!

Feature image by @storytravelers