Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A Trip To The Richtersveld - Part 1

Before I went north in September, Stretch visited this area for the first time and a group of us took a 3-day camping trip to the Richtersveld in South Africa’s Northern Cape province, about a twenty minute drive from my present location:


Approaching the Orange (Gariep) River, one of my favourite scenes in Namibia. I call it 'Flower Mountain' because to me it looks like a rosebud which is about to bloom.


The pontoon comes across the river from South Africa to fetch us at Sendelingsdrift - 'sendeling' means missionary in Afrikaans.


The terrain is very rugged and changeable.


We were a week or two too late to see the plants at their best after the sparse winter rain.


... so named because of the strange impression on the rock.


Most of the roads are pretty rough and are best travelled in a 4-wheel drive but, I've seen people driving here in ordinary sedan vehicles.


Another weirdscape.


I almost missed this fleshy starfish-shaped succulent flower.


A lone Quiver Tree, Kokerboom in Afrikaans.


I photographed this tree on my first visit visit here about three years ago but couldn't resist taking another shot.


I'll probably be off-line for a few days from Thursday exploring new territory but I'll set Part 2 to publish automatically.

Related Posts:


Scenes From The Richtersveld
A Few Plants From The Richtersveld

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21 comments:

  1. Beautiful, very beautiful but it does look hot.

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  2. It is beautiful indeed Calvin. Surprisingly the climate is pretty mild and pleasant much of the time but yes, it does get very hot at times and freezing during winter ...

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  3. wonderful pics. The ferry reminds me of the one I took in Missouri a few months ago. Does the motor pivot around the middle so the direction is reversed by flipping the motor unit? I thought that was a great idea for a quick turn around.

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  4. Thanks Bill - yes, the motor pivots to change direction ... the whole pontoon is anchored by a cable which extends across the river - the pontoon has been washed away by the flooded river twice in the past ...

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  5. Stunning scenery. The mountain really does look like a flower. I'd love to know more of the story about Sendelingsdrift. The Hand of God imprint on the rock is really something. Do you know how it was made?

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  6. I wonder what Stretch thought of the whole experience. Did you encounter any snakes. I wonder the stark silhouette of the land against the night sky.

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  7. It is beautiful here Penny ...

    I don't know anything about the history of Sendelingsdrift but I presume it was a crossing point in the days of ox-wagon transport because there is a small bridge a few hundred meters upstream - the bridge is exposed when the water level is fairly low ...

    No ideas on how the Hand Of god imprint was made - a natural phenomena I presume.

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  8. Hehe Fazlisa - I was going to mention that Stretch was blown away by this area ... I think he's found his Spiritual home here ... all he can talk about now is starting an adventure tour business ...

    We saw no snakes - For reasons unknown to me snakes are relatively rare in the Richtersveld park ...

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  9. Wow. What a beautiful area...

    Pearl

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  10. It is stunningly beautiful ... thanks for your visit and comment Pearl.

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  11. I get excited when I see a new post on this blog. And this one was great.
    We have a similar ferry. No motor. the ferryman just winds a handle to point the ferry in the other direction and the current slices the ferry accross very quickly.

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  12. I should add our local ferry is attached to guide wires. So when it points it moves well. But doesn't disappear downstream.

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  13. Thank you FoG - Part2 will be published on Friday ...

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  14. Thanks for the update Graham ;-)

    Look forward to Part 2.

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  15. What wonderful photos, I now realise while I will never get Africa out of my blood stream. Diane

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  16. Hi OneStonedCrow - stunning - I had a trip up the Skeleton Coast back in 88 .. the scenery is just beautiful. The geology of the area just amazing ..

    I'd love to get to the Richtersveld someday ... and the Spring Flowers that I failed to do when I was in SA

    Beautiful photos - just so evocative giving us a really good overview - Lovely .. thank you - Hilary

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  17. Indeed Diane - Africa will always be in your blood ... I hope you're feeling better.

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  18. Thanks Hilary - I hope that you do get to visit this stunning area someday ... to me the best time is September.

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  19. Your pictures are awesome as usual Graham. I love the flesh star-fish flower. It saddens me that I have never been to the Richtersfeld - I wonder if I ever will....

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  20. Thanks Jackie - I hope that you do get a chance to see this part of the country.

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  21. Wow, stunning photos and the scenery is just fantastic. A trip like this is still on my bucket list - hope I will have time to still do it.

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