The Richtersveld is a remote region; hot, dry and seemingly lifeless. It has a certain esoteric beauty, but why should such a barren place be worthy of World Heritage status? The Richtersveld has both natural and cultural criteria that make it unique. In other words, there’s more to the Richtersvled than first meets the eye.
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, an arrangement that brings SANParks and the local community together in a pioneering system of co-management.