The Richtersveld is one of the most remote and least explored regions of South Africa; it is also one of the richest in terms of both biological and mineral wealth. Tucked away on the Atlantic coast in the far northwest corner of South Africa, the Richtersveld's northern and eastern borders are defined by the "big bend" of the Orange River, with the desolate Atlantic shores defining its western edge, flanked by the freezing waters of the Benguela Current. The region forms part of Namaqualand, which was home to the Nama people long before Europeans first landed at the Cape.
At first sight it is perhaps a forbidding part of the country: its vast sandy plains, rugged mountains and few permanent water sources appear to offer little respite from the extreme temperatures and aridity. But it comprises an extraordinary often cryptic plant and animal life; here, in a land almost without liquid sustenance, the richest diversity of succulent flora in the world is found. As part of the surrounding Succulent Karoo, this region was identified as the first entirely arid biodiversity hotspot on Earth.
Furthermore, it is home to an assembly of remarkable people. Initially disparate communities have found themselves united here through dispossession - of their land and of many basic human rights - and have worked together in exemplary fashion in a bid to survive in this harsh refuge.
The isolation of the Richtersveld and its enigmatic beauty make it an ecnreasingly attractive destination for adventurous travellers an for those seeking out Earth's final frontiers. This book explores all aspects of the region - its scenic wonders, diverse plant and animal life and the history of its peoples. And it takes a look at the struggles and triumphs of the emerging community in their ongoing quest for justice.
Something about the author:
At first sight it is perhaps a forbidding part of the country: its vast sandy plains, rugged mountains and few permanent water sources appear to offer little respite from the extreme temperatures and aridity. But it comprises an extraordinary often cryptic plant and animal life; here, in a land almost without liquid sustenance, the richest diversity of succulent flora in the world is found. As part of the surrounding Succulent Karoo, this region was identified as the first entirely arid biodiversity hotspot on Earth.
Furthermore, it is home to an assembly of remarkable people. Initially disparate communities have found themselves united here through dispossession - of their land and of many basic human rights - and have worked together in exemplary fashion in a bid to survive in this harsh refuge.
The isolation of the Richtersveld and its enigmatic beauty make it an ecnreasingly attractive destination for adventurous travellers an for those seeking out Earth's final frontiers. This book explores all aspects of the region - its scenic wonders, diverse plant and animal life and the history of its peoples. And it takes a look at the struggles and triumphs of the emerging community in their ongoing quest for justice.
Something about the author:
Francois Odendaal has been involved in the Richtersveld for almost two decades as a researcher, filmmaker and development facilitator. He obtained his BSc at Natal University, his honours degree at the University of the Witwatersrand and did his doctoral research in the semi-desert environment of South Australia. Subsequently he became a Research Associate at Stanford University in California and later a research and teaching associate at Duke University. He spent 10 years as a visiting professor at Southern Connecticut State University in the United States. Now based in South Africa, he manages EcoAfrica Environment Consultants and holds a position as Adjunct Professor at the Cape Peninsula Univeristy of Technology in Cape Town. His first love is to collaborate with local communities on natural resource management
Source: Richtersveld the land and its people /Francois Odendaal & Helen Suich, photography by Claudio Velasquez Rojas
