View from Maerpoort with Rosyntjieberg in the background, Richtersveld National Park

The Maerpoort valley, in the midst of seemingly forbidding landscape in Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park, is seen here with the spectacular Rosyntjieberg mountains in the background.

With rugged kloofs, high mountains and dramatic landscapes that sweep away inland from the Orange River, the vast mountain desert that is the Richtersveld National Park is an area managed jointly by the local Nama people and the South African National Parks.

The park, with its harsh and unpredictable land, where water is scarce and life-sustaining moisture comes in the form of early morning fog, is only accessible by means of a 4x4 vehicle, but vehicles with high clearances such as combi�s and LDV�s do travel in the park. Sedan vehicles are not permitted.

PHOTO SOURCE: Lex Hes, courtesy of, and copyright, South Africa Tourism, a department of the government of South Africa, used with permission.

---

NOTE: The information regarding South Africa on this page is re-published from other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of south_africa information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about south_africa photos should be addressed to the copyright owner noted below the photo.