Richtersveld
The cultural landscape of the Richtersveld (official name: Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape ) is an area in the extreme north- west of South Africa. The mountainous, desert -like terrain is the last area in southern Africa, yet the natives live as nomadic shepherds in the tribe of the Nama. 2007 by the UNESCO therefore this landscape as a World Heritage Site.
Location
Richtersveld is only very sparsely populated and municipality on the border with Namibia, bounded on the north from the Orange River, on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Only a few hundred people live in the mountainous northeast. The northernmost part of the municipality is the Richtersveld National Park, which is operated jointly with Namibia as a trans- national park since 2003. To the south is the territory of the World Heritage Site which is protected under the name Richtersveld Community Conservancy since 2000. On its borders are the villages Kuboes, Lekkersing and Eksteenfontein. Owner of both the National Park and the Community Conservancy is a "Community Ownership Community " ( Community Property Association) of its population of Nama and " Bosluis Baster ".
The Richtersveld is a dry mountain desert where the temperatures extreme daily and seasonal fluctuations. Frost in winter and 40 ° C in the summer are not uncommon. In most of the Richtersveld falls in the winter rain, mostly between May and September in the mountains but also summer thunderstorms are possible. These climatic conditions have created a unique biodiversity: The Succulent Karoo is home, despite desert conditions, succulents almost 5000, of which 40 % are endemic. Lithops are under represented. 29 lichen species represent a worldwide unique diversity
Use
During the tourist development of the national park is geared more towards the natural, undisturbed plant and animal world, the designated as a World Heritage areas are mainly used as a seasonal pasture. In fact, the goats, donkeys and sheep herds significantly contribute to the maintenance of the Karoo vegetation. Probably for two thousand years an ecological balance is created.
Nevertheless, overgrazing is a serious problem on the sensitive constitute grounds Therefore, within the core areas exclusively grazing permits according to the traditional rules and with the traditional mobile bins huts.
In contrast to the National Park prospecting, mining, and search for diamonds in the Community Conservancy is strictly prohibited.
Traditional pastoralism
In the protected area there are about 40 traditional storage spaces ( stock posts) which are alternately visited by the shepherds. Depending on the season they alternate between higher and lower elevation sites ( transhumance ). The allocation of storage bins on families is collaborative. Today, the members of the shepherds hold, just waiting for the weekend.
At night, the animals are herded into kraals, during the day they roam the area. The herds consist of both one's own animals as well as from those that will be treasured for a fee.
Accommodation is traditionally used bins huts, | haru om. They are hemispherical and covered over a wood frame with finely plaited rush mats. Only a few cabins that are prepared for tourists are limited to these materials. Typically, they are now made weatherproof with plastic sheeting and canvas.
Tourism
Apart from guest houses in Kuboes and Eksteenfontein and a small museum in Eksteenfontein there has been little tourist infrastructure. However, there are plans in the coming years to improve roads and build campsites. Offered also are walks and the opportunity to explore the area on the existing slopes with SUVs. The research station at Rooiberg is to be developed for visitors.