The /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is estimated to take up 5 920 km² and it engulfs some of the most spectacular arid and desert mountain scenery in southern Africa. The park is considered to be part of the Succulent Karoo biome and this is considered to have the richest succulent flora in the world, it harbours about one-third of the world’s approximately 10000 succulent species.
It is also one of only two entirely arid ecosystems to earn hotspot status with the other being the Horn of Africa in occupying Somalia. This means that these hot spot biodiversity region have got a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is regularly disturbed by the human activities.
The other features found in the Succulent Karoo are the high diversity of geophytes or bulblike plants. It is home to the tree-like succulent, the half-moons and 69% of its plants are endemic in that they are not seen anywhere else except in this Namibia Park. To those interested in discovering the reptiles and other mammals, this park is a home for many unique species of lizards, tortoise and scorpions.
It’s only this park where one can have a look at the Fish River Canyon which is considered to be the largest canyon in Africa. The Orange River mouth is a Ramsar site and the 350 million year old and erosion-rich Orange River gorge abounds with history, folklore and grandeur. The Richtersveld has remained one of the ancient regions where the Nama people’s with their traditional lifestyle still base on nomadic pastoralism as their natural way of life up to date and visitors can enjoy cultural visits to these welcoming people who are always eager to share their traditional background including their dances and songs plus the cuisines
The available Orange River within the Ai-Ais-Richtersveld enables the enthusiastic Kayakers to participate in the kayaking activity while on the river. Local communities have been employed to do the catering and help with camp attendant duties and river guiding. This enables visitors to also enjoy to local food that is cooked by the best local community chefs. Another activity that is performed here includes the newly introduced.
Knights Mountain Bike Tours and this is a bi-annual activity which is performed by most bikes or cycling lovers and this takes around five days, this can be done both during day and at night when there is full moon. This is an unforgettable experience for every visitor.
Hikers also can also enjoy around the Africa’s largest canyon within a total of 160km long, 27km wide and 550meters deep. For the travelers who are interested in game viewing, klipspringer, grey Reebok steenbok and the duiker but Chacma Baboons are present as well. Leopards are rarely seen though they are present and the common Elusive Caracal.
