Richtersveld

Raw, rugged, and sacred 

The Richtersveld is a mountain desert shaped by wind, water, and ancient culture. The Orange River snakes through its canyons, and the land tells stories older than memory. 

The Richtersveld, situated in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, is a mountainous desert renowned for its distinctive flora, including the Pachypodium namaquanum (Halfmens or Elephant's Trunk), and its profound cultural significance to the Nama people. As a World Heritage Site and Arid Biodiversity Hotspot, this region relies on coastal mists for sustenance, featuring volcanic mountains, sandy plains, and offering activities such as 4x4 trails and hiking as well as scenery “to die for”.

Characterized by a dramatic mountainous desert landscape with rugged valleys and a harsh, arid environment, the Richtersveld is home to the world's highest diversity of succulent plants, including endemic species like Aloe pillansii (Giant Quiver Tree), Aloe ramosissima (Maiden's Quiver Tree), and Aloe dichotoma (Common Quiver Tree).

• A UNESCO World Heritage Site, jointly managed by the Nama community.

• Home to the rare halfmens (Pachypodium namaquanum), a plant said to resemble a person looking north toward Namibia.

• Temperatures can swing from freezing nights to 50°C days.

• The Orange River marks the border between South Africa and Namibia.

• It’s one of the most geologically diverse desert regions in the world.