- Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park/ News 19.10.07



		News 2007News 19.10.07

New gateway from Namibia into the Cape - 19.10.07
The new border crossing point at Sendelingsdrift on the Gariep/Orange River, south of Rosh Pinah, was officially opened this week. A ferry shuttles back and forth between the two river banks. Thus it is now possible to drive from the Namibian side of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park directly into the South African part.

Previously, travellers had to leave the Namibian part of the park on its eastern flank to cross the border at Noordoewer. From there a considerable distance had to be covered, via Steinkopf, Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay, to re-enter the park at Sendelingsdrift on the South African side of the border. It was roughly 450 km from one park border to the next. Now that the ferry service is in operation, this conservation area has become a cross-border park in the true sense of the world. An agreement on the 'Transfrontier Park' was signed by Namibia and South Africa on 1 August 2003.

The area is largely characterised by solitary mountains and forms part of the Succulent Karoo Desert which boasts more than

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6,000 plant species and is seen as the most biodiverse desert on earth. The Richtersveld was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites in the end of June. Among the endemic plants is the conspicuous 'Halfmens'‚ a stem succulent plant whose silhouette often resembles that of a human figure. The Richtersveld may only be entered by four-wheel drive or with a vehicle with higher-than-average ground clearance; city cars are not permitted.

The border crossing point and ferry service at Sendelingsdrift also open up a totally new route from the Cape to southern Namibia: from Cape Town one can drive along the West Coast to the Richtersveld, then cross the Gariep/Orange River and continue on the northern bank to towards the Fish River Canyon, or straight north to Rosh Pinah and on to the Wild Horses at Aus as well as the diamond ghost town of Kolmanskuppe and the harbour town of Lüderitz.

On the Namibian side two parks of the Gondwana Desert Collection make for a perfect starting point or travel destination: Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park near Aus (120 km north of Rosh Pinah and about 150 km from Sendelingsdrift) and Gondwana Cañon Park at the Fish River Canyon (80 km north of Ai-Ais and some 220 km from Sendelingsdrift).


		- See more on the \|Ai\|Ais/Richtersveld Park , on the - Fish River Canyon, and on the Wild Horses & Kolmanskop