Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape

This dry area sees little water and, thus, only the strongest survive. In spite of the harsh conditions, the Richtersveld is considered the sole arid biodiversity hotspot on the planet and boasts an impressive assortment of flowering succulents as well as a surprising medley of animal and bird life.

Interesting succulents of Richtersveld are the Halfmens; so named because they look like tall skinny people with a mop of messy hair when seen from a distance. Extremely slow-growing, halfmens are somewhat rare and not often seen.

Animals one might see include the ocelot, Hartmann’s mountain zebra and the steenbok. Bird lovers will appreciate seeing the rock martin, black eagle and the hamerkop. The Richtersveld has abundant desert life-forms that have adapted to survival in the arid conditions. Temperatures at Richtersveld are extreme with summer highs reaching over 50° C with little rainfall. Malmokkies (morning fog) give water to the animals, reptiles, birds and plants, making survival possible.

The Richtersveld is owned by the Nama people who descend from the Khoi-Khoi. The Nama manage, and have dedicated their lives, to conserve the Richtersveld. They live in the villages of Eksteenfontein, Kuboes and Lekkersing. The Nama choose to rotate between pastures to protect the land from being overused. Seasonal migrations also protect the land.

The culture of the Nama is rich in music, folk tales, leatherwork, the making of musical instruments, jewelry and containers made of tortoiseshell. Influenced by the missionaries in the 1800’s, the Nama women still dress in the fashion of the Victorian era. The Nama have passed down their stories through music, praise poetry and proverbs.

Rock engravings are found in many areas of the Richtersveld. While most of the engravings date back 2,000 years, some have been found to be as old as 10,000 years old. Geometric designs, such as spirals, dots and grids, make up most of the engravings. The engravings are thought to be drawings of the stages of Shamanism.

Diverse biodiversity, rare succulents, nomadic tribes and petroglyphs are just some of the treasures Richtersveld has to offer. Visit this spectacular UNESCO site to experience the beauty, the uniqueness and the wonderment that is the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape.