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For those adventurous travellers who like to heed to the call of the wild, the Richtersveld, located in the north-western corner of South Africa, is a rugged and harsh desert landscape, characterised by high mountains and deep kloofs. With the Gariep River (previously called Orange) flowing through the Park, it is full of changing scenery, including flat, sandy coastal plains to sharp mountains of volcanic rock, with the lushness of the massive waterway flowing through it.
De Hoop is one of the most popular camping sites in the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, because it is centrally located and right next to the Gariep River on the South African side.
View LodgeThe camp can only be reached with a 4x4-vehicle with a high ground clearance and is accessible from Sendelingsdrift via the Helskloof Pass.
View LodgeSet in a secluded gorge with a large number of fascinating Quiver trees, the campsite is ideal for those who enjoy the peacefulness brought by complete silence.
View LodgeSituated on the southern banks of the Gariep River, Potjiespram is the largest of all the camps in the Richtersveld Park and is accessed via Sendelingsdrift.
View LodgeThe Richtersberg Camp offers basic and rustic facilities with views over the rugged mountains on the Namibian side of the river and the Tatas Mountains on the South African side.
View LodgeThe camp was built in the style of a mining camp and ten chalets offer comfortable accommodation with air conditioning.
View LodgeTatasberg Wilderness Camp is located within sight of the Gariep River in the remote area around the Tatas Mountains, offering one the experience of being fully immersed in the wilderness.
View LodgeThe Richtersveld has been combined with the Ai-Ais Park from neighbouring Namibia across the Gariep River, to become the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The Park is regarded as the only arid biodiversity hotspot on earth and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and now includes the Fish River Canyon – the largest canyon in Africa.
As this vast area is still utilised as grazing for the livestock of the Nama people - who are direct descendants of the ancient Khoikhoi people - the Park is unique as a conservancy for future research and tourism. Migrating seasonally to make use of the fragile succulent ecosystem, the Namas continue with their historic lifestyle while preserving the environment for their descendants and managing the World Heritage Site.
The climate of the Richtersveld is characterised by extremities. Temperatures vary between temperatures of 53° C in mid-summer and freezing below-0 temperatures during winter nights. It is a mountain desert with very little water, but the early morning fog rolling in from the cold Benguela current in the Atlantic Ocean, provides enough moisture to sustain the abundance of plants, many not found anywhere else on earth. Sandstorms occur during winter when strong and cold winds sweep in from the Ocean in the west.
Two eco-regions exist in the Park, as it is a transitional zone between the coastal Succulent Karoo and the drier Nama Karoo in the east. Rainfall varies between 5mm per year in the east to 200mm per annum in the west. Thunderstorms occur in the east along the Gariep River in summer, while the western mountainous region receives mostly winter rainfall.
About 4 849 plant species – mostly succulent and aloe species - can be found in the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, of which 40 percent are endemic and cannot be found anywhere on earth. Some rather unusual plants, like the Halfmensboom (Pachypodium namaquanum) was so named by the Nama people, referring to the trees as the embodiment of their ancestors, half human, half plant. Three endemic species of the tree aloe Aloidendron: A. dichotomum, A. pillansii and A. ramosissimum, often referred to as "kokerbooms" or "quiver trees" are also found here.
The first botanical garden for desert plants recently opened for the public in the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. Pieter van Wyk, an award-winning South African botanist, committed to conserving the unique flora of the region, developed the garden at Sendelingsdrift in combination with SANParks and the South African National Institute for Biodiversity.
Sendelingsdrift is the entry point on the South African side of the park and also a border post leading to the Namibian side. A pontoon operates daily from 8:00 to 16:00 and carries vehicles across the river. Being the only camp in the park with basic facilities, including a swimming pool, small shop and refuelling station, this is also the place where all visitors must report to and sign in at.
The Richtersveld is the habitat of a diverse range of mammals, reptiles and birds and because none of the camps are fenced, visitors are urged to always be on the lookout for wild animals, snakes and scorpions. Facilities are limited, communication channels are intermittent and unreliable and there are no shops and fuel stations available in the Park.
Explore the Park on the internal farm tracks which include a few spectacular passes to challenge your off-road driving skills and ability of your vehicle.
A number of mountain biking and hiking trails are available, including the well-known 5-day hiking trail through the Fish River Canyon. Several tour operators run rowing excursions on the Gariep River, stretching over a few nights and through magnificent landscapes and scenery.
The fastest way to get to Sendelingsdrift from the N7 (South Africa) and B1 (Namibia) is to turn off at Steinkopf and approach via Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay with only the last 80km being on dirt roads.
For those wishing to enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way, take the road from Vioolsdrift, via Eksteenfontein and then on to Sendelingsdrift. Please respect the interests of the farmers along the way whose crops are affected by the dust from speeding vehicles.