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Richtersveld National Park

The Richtersveld region stretches from Steinkopf and Port Nolloth in the south up to the Orange River, and from Alexander Bay to Vioolsdrif. The Richtersveld National Park is a small part of this, in the loop of the Orange River. This park is the most undeveloped and inaccessible wilderness area in South Africa.

The Richtersveld is a unique mountain desert wilderness of great beauty, tucked in the far northwestern corner of the Northern Cape in South Africa. It is full of changing scenery, with flat sandy plains in the south, to craggy sharp mountains in the northwest and the lushness of the Orange River.
Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park is only accessible by means of a 4x4 vehicle, but vehicles with high clearances such as combi’s and LDV’s do travel in the park. Sedan vehicles are not permitted.

Richtersveld History

Blyde River The harsh environment opens up a treasure-chest containing the world’s richest desert flora. Miniature rock gardens, perfectly designed by nature, cling precariously to cliff faces. Tiny succulents, mere pinpoints against a backdrop of surreal rock formations, revel in the moisture brought by the early morning fog rolling in from the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Conjure up a desolate and forbidding landscape, seemingly devoid of life, except for some people dotting along the horizon. Make a startling discovery upon closer inspection when the mirage dissolves into the human-like half-mens (half person) and the harsh environment prove to be a treasure-chest containing the world’s richest desert flora. Miniature rock gardens, perfectly designed by nature, cling precariously to cliff faces. Tiny succulents, mere pinpoints against a backdrop of surreal rock formations, revel in the moisture brought by the early morning fog rolling in from the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Rugged kloofs, high mountains and dramatic landscapes that sweep away inland from the Orange River divulge the fact that you are now in the vast mountain desert that is the Richtersveld National Park, an area managed jointly by the local Nama people and the South African National Parks. This is a harsh and unpredictable land where water is scarce and life-sustaining moisture comes in the form of early morning fog – called ‘Ihuries’ or ‘Malmokkies’ by the local people – which rolls in from the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, sustaining a remarkable range of small reptiles, birds and mammals. A staggering assortment of plant life, some species occurring nowhere else, is to be found here, with gnarled quiver trees, tall aloes and quaint ‘half-mens’ keeping vigil over this inscrutable landscape.

In this wilderness lies the 162 445 ha Richtersveld National Park, proclaimed in 1991 after 18 years of negotiation between the National Park Board and the local Nama people. The park is now managed jointly by the local community and the South African Parks. The Nama people, who lease the land to the board, continue to live and graze their livestock in the area.

This is a harsh and unpredictable land where water is scarce and life-sustaining moisture appears in the form of an early-morning fog called "Ihuries" or "Malmokkies" by the locals. It rolls in from the Atlantic sustaining a remarkable range of small reptiles, birds and mammals.

The Richtersveld is home to grey rhebok, duiker, steenbok, klipspringer, kudu, Hartman’s mountain zebra, baboon, velvet monkey, caracal and leopard. Birdlife is prolific, and 650 plant species have been recorded (the Nama community have specific uses for some 150 of these species, ranging from medicinal and cosmetic to nutritional).

Also peculiar to the Richtersveld is the world’s largest diversity of succulents, including the unusual halfmens, a tall succulent plant that bears an uncanny resemblance to the human from when seen outlined against the sky.

The Gariep River which forms the northern border of the Park is virtually the only standing water in this whole vast region and the rocks are stark and bare - in some places resembling a barren lunar landscape. The palate of colours that meets your eyes travels through the full range of golds and yellows to pinks and purples and then stuns you with streaks of pure white quartz which is sometimes scattered on the ground like snow.

Canoeing, angling and bathing in the Orange River are allowed (although rather perilous).

Three hiking trails offer visitors the opportunity to explore this deserted wonderland. Kodaspiek Trail, the easiest, covers 24 km in two days; the Lelieshoek-Oemsberg Trail is a three-day/ 23 km hike; and Venstersvalle Trail, the most arduous, is a 42 km trek that takes 4 days to complete.

The Richtersveld climate is harsh and dry, with temperatures of up to 53°C having been recorded in mid-summer. Nights are cool and may become chilly in winter. Heavy nighttime dew occurs in the park.

To get to the park, follow the N7 leading north from Springbok to Steinkopf, then turn west to Port Nolloth and take the coast road to Alexander Bay. From there, it’s some 90 km to the park’s headquarters at Sendingsdrift. Alternatively, the scenic route via Kuboes, Lekkersing and Eksteenfontein provides an additional dimension of what the region has to offer. Another spectacular route, recommended for 4X4 vehicles only, is over the mountain pass via Helskloof Reserve between Eksteenfontein and Vioolsdrift.

The park is only accessible by means of a 4x4 vehicle, but vehicles with high clearances such as combi's and LDV's do travel in the park. Sedan vehicles are not permitted. Driving in the park at night is also not permitted.

Discovery of Richtersveld

Rugged kloofs, high mountains and dramatic landscapes that sweep away inland from the Orange River divulge the fact that you are now in the vast mountain desert that is the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld National Park, an area managed jointly by the local Nama people and the South African National Parks. This is a harsh and unpredictable land where water is scarce and life-sustaining moisture comes in the form of early morning fog – called ‘Ihuries’ or ‘Malmokkies’ by the local people – which rolls in from the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, sustaining a remarkable range of small reptiles, birds and mammals. A staggering assortment of plant life, some species occurring nowhere else, is to be found here, with gnarled quiver trees, tall aloes and quaint ‘half-mens’ keeping vigil over this inscrutable landscape.

The park is only accessible by means of a 4x4 vehicle, but vehicles with high clearances such as combi’s and LDV’s do travel in the park. Sedan vehicles are not permitted. There is no specific route that can be booked in advance

We followed the route recommended for newcomers to the region: Turn west at Steinkopf and follow the tar road up to Alexander Bay. From there the road is a good sand road right up to Sendelingsdrif, the entrance to the Park.
We exited the park at Helskloof Gate and drove south to Eksteenfontein. From there we headed off west via Helskloof Pass, and thence down to the Orange River. We followed the river upstream to Vioolsdrif where we rejoined the N7, the main highway between the Cape and Namibia.

Half human trees

The Nama people tell the legend of the ‘halfmens’ tree. It is said that the ancient Nama people that fled from Namibia southward to this region were transformed into these half human trees. The ‘head’ of these trees always faces the north and is a reminder of those people looking longingly towards the beloved land they left behind.

This rare succulent (Pachypodium namaquanum) is found only in the South African province of the Northern Cape and in southwest Namibia. Growing on the shady, southern slopes of the mountains in the Richtersveld, it is one of the few tall plants able to survive through the seasons. They grow extremely slowly (only 2-3mm per year), but may reach a height of 3m when mature.

From a distance, these trees really look human figures staring toward the north. But science says that the reason they lean over in that direction is to give maximum exposure of their rosette of leaves to the sun during winter.

Plants that shrink, hide and swell…

Plants in the Richtersveld have developed the most extraordinary adaptation strategies to the harsh climate. Some store water in large ‘bladder’ cells on the surface of their leaves or swell quickly when there is moisture, others stay underground in the form of bulbs, and others develop white scales to reflect the sun rays or grow tiny sticky hair to trap sand grains as a protection against the wind’
The unique ‘halfmens’ (Pachypodium namaquanum) and the endangered Baster Quiver Tree (Aloe pillansii) are conspicuous in the area, but one has to stop and look closely at the ground to see the myriad miniature succulents with the most surprising shapes and colours’ and even smartly camouflaged among the white quartzite pebble outcrops.

Getting There

	Pyramid of giza
	Victoria Falls
	Kilimanjaro
	Sphinaz of giza
	Sahara Desert
	Blyde River

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