Transafrica '09
Richtersveld National Park
On the West Coast, we made a short stop at the Namaqua Coastal National Park. It is currently under renovation so you can camp out along the remote and wild coast without the usual luxury of the South African campgrounds. At our arrival we first chatted with the ranger and his wife who invited us for a cup of coffee and then brought us fresh fish in the evening to put on the grill. The park is supposed to stay simple, he said. The main clientele are fishermen... and a handful of 4x4 drivers who travel along the West Coast.
Our path then led us along the coastal line through a formerly, restricted De Beers area. Until recently, diamonds were harvested here. Now the priority is to rehabilitate nature and the towns in this area are experiencing an exodus. No mines, no work. The towns seem a bit depressing!
From there, the Richtersveld National Park is only a stone's throw away. This park is called South Africa's last wilderness and for South African standards, it truly is pretty wild. The streets are navigable only by a 4x4 and the campgrounds are very simple, yet lovely (though some do have running water and showers...). Here we were able to enjoy more secluded nature, bright starry skies and peaceful quiet.
Our camp lay directly at the riverside and we savored two nights surrounded by nature. Overall, the countryside resembled a mixture of Morocco and the Sinai. We felt right at home ;)
Translated © 2010 by Annika Valikhovskaya
