Richtersveld
National Park | Northern Cape Game Reserves:
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 |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.
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