Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
In a land far removed from our ideas of being in Africa on a safari, is a place that lies quietly hidden in the extreme western half of southern Africa. This is a land of dry mountains and rocky plains, with no tar roads or well maintained gravel tracks. It is a place for the adventurer and the four-wheel drive vehicle. You know you have entered the Park when the well used gravel track dissappears into the landscape, and you find yourself engaging low-range four-wheel drive.
Life out here is sustained by a regular light rainfall or mist which rolls in off the Atlantic in the mornings, bringing valuable moisture to this arid landscape’s succulent plants. Once again, an area of unique plant endemism. Originally the Park was found only within the confines of South Africa, but in 2003 Presidents Sam Njumo of Namibia and Thabo Mbeki of South Africa signed a treaty which opened the Park up to become International. What this did was bring together the 4 420 km² Ai-Ais Hot Springs Game Park in Namibia and the 1 625 km² Richtersveld National Park in South Africa, thus securing the third transfrontier Park in South Africa (although the Drakensberg National Park could be seen as a transfrontier park with Lesotho).
South Africa’s move to join forces with another country to secure the future of conservation was seen as a bold move towards recognising the great importance for maintaining the biodiversity of specific regions, even if that meant dissolving borders to achieve it. Nature does not recognise borders, only the motivation to survive. Inside this Park can be found the 2nd largest canyon in the World – the Fish River canyon, which stretches out over 161km through the steep cliffs of the Nama plateau, dropping to depths of 550metres in places, and exposing rock formations some 2,6 Billion years old.
Temperatures out here can drop to below 0°C in winter and have been recorded at 52°C in the summer months. But even in these extreme conditions, life exists and people live. The Nama people still graze their goats or sheep throughout the region as part of the treaty and community inclusive agreement. And in 2007, the Richtersveld Community Conservancy, a reserve situated just outside the Transfrontier Park, and untouched by mining activities was named a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Such a place serves both the interests of the local Nama people, and the conservation of endemic plant species. It has also opened itself up to research and tourism, and likewise attracts scientists, biologists and nature lovers from all over the world. Archaeological evidence shows that the San people lived in this region thousands of years ago, hunting its game and harvesting its plantlife. Such human habitation was discovered in a shelter at Die Toon near Tatasberg. This site has been dated back to 2200 BC. Today the people of the Richtersveld have through sustained effort established this region as a 160,000ha reserve with World Heritage status, thus protecting this area for generations to come.
Further north is the popular natural springs resort of Ai-Ais (meaning: “hot,very hot” or “burning water”) where hikers of the Fish River canyon can begin their hike. The 60°C thermal waters are rich in sulphates and flourides, and attract many visitors during the winter months seeking its therapeutic qualities. Some people simply enjoy staying at Ai-Ais for its nearby canyon walks and hikes, and the opportunity to have a morning dip in the mineral pools. From November to February Ai-Ais is closed due to the extreme temperatures of the summer months. This side of the reserve is a little more established with luxury tourist accomodation and camping facilities found throughout, and makes for a good starting point for an extended trip into Namibia.
So if you’re looking for something off the beaten track, and something unique the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park may well deliver on that. But be prepared to be self-sufficient and well-prepared if you opt for a self-drive experience, otherwise you could look into flying into one of the small airstrips on the Namibia side where you can let your hair down at one of the luxury accomodation lodges.
