Transfrontier Conservation Areas

/Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Area

The /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (ARTP) measures 5,920 km2 and spans some of the most spectacular arid and desert mountain scenery in southern Africa. It includes the /Ai/Ais Hot Springs Game Park in Namibia and the Richtersveld National Park and Richtersveld World Heritage Site in South Africa. The Transfrontier Park is renowned as a biodiversity hotspot and is considered the most biodiverse desert in the world. It also features the world's second largest canyon, the Fish River Canyon, which zigzags between spectacular cliffs characteristic of the desert landscape. The Orange River runs 2,200km (1,400 miles) from its source in the east of Lesotho and along the border of South Africa with Namibia, before exiting into the ocean at Oranjemund. An MOU was signed by Namibia and South Africa in 2001, after which the international treaty formally established the ARTP on 1 August 2003. After the signing of the treaty a joint management board was established, which includes community representatives, ensuring joint-decision making and benefit sharing in the ARTP. Joint activities between the Namibian and South African components of the ARTP started in 2007, including the annual canyon cleaning, joint patrols by park managers and staff. With cross-border operations well in hand and successful, the attention turned to increasing visitor numbers to the ARTP. This is being realised by developing unique cross-border tourism products.

Natural and Cultural Heritage

The 350 million-year-old and erosion-rich Orange River gorge that separates Namibia and South Africa abounds with history, folklore and grandeur. Animal paintings are found in caves, some estimated as being over 25 000 years old. ARTP is part of the Succulent Karoo Biome which has the richest succulent flora in the world harbouring about one-third of the world’s approximately 10 000 succulent species, with new species being discovered on an ongoing basis. The ARTP is one of only two entirely arid ecosystem hotspots.
Sparse rainfall occurs in winter due to passing cold fronts falling as light mist, with an annual rainfall of between 50 - 100 mm. The only permanent source of water is the Orange River. Two trees are particularly associated with the ARTP: the giant quiver tree, Aloidendron pillansii, and the half-mens (halfhuman), Pachypodium namaquanum, which the Nama People revere as embodiments of their ancestors, half human, half plant, mourning their ancient Namibian home. The Orange River Mouth is a wetland of international importance and designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site.
Wildlife found in the area is adapted to withstand the arid climate, with many species concentrated in the denser vegetation around the Orange River. The ARTP is home to 56 species of mammals, including six species endemic to the southern African sub-region and at least 194 species of birds. Leopard, caracal, brown hyena and black-backed jackal are some of the predators found in the area. Jackal buzzards and african fish eagles are other common raptor species to see. The programme by South African National Parks (SANParks) to re-introduce wildlife to the ARTP started in 2007, when they brought in 40 gemsbok and 80 springbok.

The People of ARTP

The Richtersveld is one of the last areas preserving the Nama People’s traditional lifestyle of nomadic pastoralism. The Richtersveld NP is a contractual park whith the land belonging to the community and managed by the government agency, SANParks, on behalf of these communities. While some community members continue to reside in the park and are entitled to graze a total of 6 000 head of livestock, the majority choose to live in four settlements adjacent to Richtersveld National Park.

ARTP Highlights

Fish River Canyon: The second largest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon in America. The Fish River Canyon Viewpoint is accessible from the Hobas Camp in /Ai /Ais National Park and offers an internationally acclaimed five day, self-supported hike down the canyon from Hobas to /Ai /Ais.
Boplaas campsite: Situated on the Namibian side of the Orange River, just east of the Fish River, it offers a camp site with ablution facilities, and it is possible to book kayaking trips in the ARTP from here.
Access to the lower part of the Orange River just before it mouths into the ocean at Oranjemund. There are many exciting kayaking and fishing options along the river so long as legal requirements for entry and utilisation is met.
/Ai /Ais Hot Springs Game Park, managed by NWR and offering both camping and hotel accommodation, as well as a pool fed by the hot springs.
UNESCO recognised Richtersveld World Heritage Site just south of the Richtersveld National Park.
Night skies: The ARTP is a large wilderness area, isolated from the light pollution of big cities, offering spectacular dark skies for the astronomy enthusiast.
Remote locations
Mountainous landscapes
Experience the oldest and most biodiverse desert in the world
Richtersveld Desert Botanical Garden and Nursery: Launched on 20 August 2024, this Botanical Garden is the only of it’s kind within a National Park and is managed in partnership with the South African National Botanical Society. It demonstrates the different plant ecosystems in the Park and have become a hub for confiscated poached succulents in the region. It also hosts ex-situ collection of plant species threatened by climate change and development. The Nursery has a collection of plants for sale, attempting to ensure plants vulnerable to poaching are made affordably available.
Richtersveld Pontoon: Crossing the border through the South African and Namibian side with the pontoon at Sendelingsdrift provides an experience valued by many guests. The Pontoon serves as the official transition gateway for the Transfontier Park.