In the far northwestern corner of South Africa lies the Richtersveld, recently inscribed as South Africa’s 8th World Heritage Site. At first glance, it is a desolate and inhospitable place, with hot sandy plains and startling, jagged mountains of black rock. It is the world’s only biodiversity hotspot located in an arid region, with thousands of plant species, many of which are endemic to the area. It is also the home to the last remaining groups of Nama (Khoikhoi) people who still practice their traditional semi-nomadic lifestyle, living in portable reed huts and moving with their flocks of sheep and goats.

The Richtersveld travel guide contains all the information you need to explore this stunning region.

* It covers the geological, botanical and cultural history of the area, and it contains full details of where to stay and what to do.

* The guide includes the Richtersveld Community Conservancy, the Richtersveld National Park, the nearby towns of Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth, and crosses the border into Namibia, where the Richtersveld is joined with the Ai-Ais hot springs and the Fish River Canyon (second largest in the world) in a spectacular Transfrontier Conservation Area.

* The Richtersveld is also part of the greater Namaqualand region, which runs south from the Orange River for several hundred kilometers. This beguiling part of the world has won international renown for its annual spring-flower spectacle, when millions of flowers burst forth to mount a staggering display that attracts visitors from all over the world.

DAVID FLEMINGER’S first book, Back Roads of the Cape, was published in 2005. He has also written 6 other guides in the Southbound Pocket Guides series. He has also worked in many different aspects of the media industry—as a scriptwriter, director, editor, post-production supervisor, interviewer and producer. He has written and directed theatre shows, TV series and educational videos and is studying for an MA in Tourism & Heritage Studies at Wits University. A born-and-bred Jo’burger, he lives in the northern suburbs with sundry pets and housemates. Much to his mother’s mounting despair he is still single but spends his time watching theatre, cricket and walking his dogs in the park.

"This pocket-sized travel guide contains all the information you need to explore the Richtersveld. It contains full details of where to stay and what to do in this stunning region..."   -- Garden & Home (SA), 2009

“It packs a lot of information for a small book: plants, human history, suggested itineraries, where to stay and useful contacts…”   -- Marion Whitehead, Getaway

“This is the first guide to be published on the Richtersveld…This guide contains all the information the traveler needs to explore this unique, and it’s own way very beautiful, region.”   -- Talking Travel Africa