Why is it called the Richtersveld?

Plant life meaning “half-person tree” , the name comes from the plant’s resemblance to the human form. These trees are revered by the indigenous Nama people as the embodiment of their ancestors, half human, half plant, mourning for their ancient Namibian home.

When was the Richtersveld National Park created?

1 August 2003
RICHTERSVELD NATIONAL PARK – HISTORY: An international treaty, signed on 1 August 2003, incorporated the Ai–Ais Hot Springs Game Park in Namibia and|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld National Park in South Africa, resulting in the establishment of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park.

Where do you enter the Richtersveld National Park?

Access. The national park is located in the Northern Cape Province, off of the N7, 326 kilometres (202.1 miles) from Springbok. The quickest route to the nature reserve is to travel along the N7, turning off at Steinkopf, approaching via Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay.

Are there lions in the Richtersveld?

RICHTERSVELD NATIONAL PARK – WILDLIFE: Wild animals roam the plains of this hostile environment and include springbok, klipspringer, grey rheebok and steenbok. While elephants, lions, and rhinos have long abandoned this area, other large mammals inhabit the Richtersveld, though they are more rarely seen.

When was Richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape declared a heritage site?

June 2007
In June 2007, the “Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape”, just to the south of the Ai-Ais Richtersveld National Park and an area of equivalent size and beauty, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Which country is Northern Cape?

South Africa
Northern Cape, province, western South Africa. It is bordered to the north by Namibia and Botswana; to the east by North West, Free State, and Eastern Cape provinces; to the south and southwest by Western Cape province; and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

What makes Ukhahlamba Drakensberg National Park unique?

The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park has exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts. Rolling high altitude grasslands, the pristine steep sided river valleys and rocky gorges also contribute to the beauty of this world heritage site.

Do I need a 4×4 for Richtersveld?

Driving in the Park The Richtersveld National Park provides a genuine offroad adventure and can only be travelled by 4×4 with high ground clearance. Particularly difficult are some riverbeds with soft sand and the rocky mountain passes.

Is the R382 tarred?

This is a very minor poort on the tarred R382 route between Steinkopf and Port Nolloth. It clears a natural gap through a ridge of mountains, which are a southern extension of the Vyftien Myl se Berge, where the altitudes range between 250 and 400m.

Why is Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape important?

Outstanding Universal Value. The extensive communal grazed lands of the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape are a testimony to land management processes which have ensured the protection of the succulent Karoo vegetation and thus demonstrates a harmonious interaction between people and nature.

Is there a desert in Northern Cape?

The Kalahari Region, Northern Cape The portion of the great Kalahari desert that lies in the Northern Cape Province is but part of a large arid to semi-arid sandy area known as the Kalahari Basin, covering 2.5 million square kilometres that stretch from the Orange River to cover most of Botswana and parts of Namibia.

What language do they speak in Northern Cape?

Afrikaans
The Northern Cape’s four official languages are Afrikaans, Tswana, Xhosa, and English. Minorities speak the other official languages of South Africa and a few people speak indigenous languages such as Nama and Khwe.

Is the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa?

The Richtersveld National Park is a rugged, desolate and in parts hauntingly beautiful ‘mountain desert’ set in a great loop of the Orange River. It is one of the most important of the country’s conservation areas, not only for the dramatically unique landscapes, but also for its status as South Africa’s first contractual park,…

Is the Richtersveld National Park subject to diamond mining?

Unlike the National Park, the Richtersveld Community Conservancy, which forms the core zone of the World Heritage Site, is not subject to diamond mining and is as a result the more pristine of the two areas. The Richtersveld is characterized by harsh summer temperatures which have been recorded to reach approximately 53 °C (127 °F) in mid-summer.

What kind of climate does the Richtersveld have?

The Richtersveld comprises desert and succulent Karoo biomes. It is characterized by harsh summer temperatures which have been recorded to reach approximately 53 °C (127 °F) in mid-summer. Nights are cool and bring with them heavy dew.

What kind of animals live in the Richtersveld?

The Richtersveld offers habitats for a diverse range of mammal, reptile, and bird species. These include the Grey rhebok, Duiker, Steenbok, Klipspringer, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, Chacma baboon, Vervet monkey, Caracal and the African leopard.