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About the World Heritage site

First a Conservancy

While many people already know about the Richtersveld National Park, more and more people are catching on about its equally large southern neighbour, the Richtersveld Community Conservancy

10 years ago, the historically disadvantaged people of the Richtersveld united, reclaimed title to their traditional land, and set aside this conservancy to be forever conserved for research and tourism. It offers some of southern Africa's finest hiking, 4x4 driving, camping and cultural experiences.

Now a World Heritage site

The Richtersveld Community Conservancy is also the last refuge of Nama people living what is known as the transhumance lifestyle - to migrate seasonally with their livestock from mountains to the river and so make sustainable use of the fragile succulent ecosystem.

In recognition of this vanishing lifestyle, and of the rare botanical diversity it helps protect, the Conservancy has been declared the core of a new World Heritage Site.

Download the statement of universal value that was endorsed by UNESCO. (60kb PDF)


A place of global significance.

The Richtersveld is one of the Earth's richest resevoirs of plant and animal life. In the rarely explored land behind Khuboes and Eksteenfontein, there are 33 types of plant that you will find nowhere else in the world.

Please explore the website and come visit us in the Richtersveld! Not only will you be supporting the conservation of a global biodiversity hotspot, the Succulent Karoo, but you will also be able to experience the rich Nama and Baster culture which has developed over nearly three thousand years in this rugged and beautiful environment.


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Information Offices:
Tel Khuboes: 027 8312013
Tel Eksteenfontein: 027 8517108
info@richtersveldwhs.org