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The bridge between Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay has been washed away - 4 days of rain, resulting in trucks being standed at Port Nolloth.

Wow,

When you're not geared up for rain it can be quite devastating.

My daughter has just come back from Swakopmund where it 'never' rained and they has 5 days solid rain last month and it flooded many houses, and the streets were only suitable for 4x4 vehicles. There is no storm water system there. Must have been Brad and Angelina's fault.

Hi, as first timers going to De Hoop & Richtersberg in July 2006, can someone help:
1. Is there drinking water available to fill up tanks at Sendelingsdrif?
2. Should we rather boil the river water or take in our own?
3. Is there now unleaded petrol at Sendelingsdrif?
4. I assume we can buy fresh meat in Alexander Bay?
5. What sort of Min/Max temperatures can we expect in July?

Thanks 4 the help!
Trevor

Hi Trevor & welcome to the forum
1. & 2. Rather take what you know from home as we did.
3. There wasn't on 1 May, get it in Alex Bay.
4.There is a Spar and a butcher in Port Nolloth that sells good
stuff.
5. Sorry I don't know.

Enjoy the austere beauty.
Regards,
BB

Hi Trevor,
We were in the park during the long weekend, 27 April to 1 May. We travelled from Cape Town, stayed over at Eksteenfontein and stayed the rest of the time at De Hoop.They only stock Lead Replacement Fuel. We had one can of unleaded fuel with us.We took our own drinking water and used water from the river to shower or had a nice swim. (Solar Shower - works great!). Ablutions were blocked at De Hoop, but the one further down the road was still available. We used our Ford Ranger bakkie, didn'nt get stuck, had a wonderful time! During July the min temp hovers anything between 5 degrees and less. Daytime temperatures are moderate, you can even wear shortsleeves in the sun, the water in the river is going to be ice cold, so forget about going for a swim.

Hi Ella & elcome to the forum.

I don't know about ice cold, but it won't be warm, although the Orange travels through sunny areas in the winter, I would say it would be about 10-15C.

Hi

Can anyone please supply me with a map, photos, GPS co-ords, 'things to do ideas' in and around the Richtersberg camp site. We have booked in September and are 4x4 capable. Much appreciated.

Thank you
John Boy

We are going in August, will send you some information when back. You can always ask Bush Baptist. We bought some InfoMap maps to help with our route planning.

Hi
Can anybody tell me if the bridge between Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay is operational since the rains.

I am heading to the RNP on the 1st July...

Thanks

Greg

Hi JB & welcome to the forum.

There is a lot of nothing in Richtersveld which makes it attractive. The roads we went on were quite challenging for novices. You will be able to swim in the river, and do birding, and watch out for the indigenous 'halfmens' and quiver tree.

Enjoy the peace and quiet,
BB

There is a lot of see - rock formations, plants, etc, so don't drive to quickly to get to Richtersberg, stop, get out and look at these things, now that there has been a lot of rain this year there will many shrubs/trees and so on to see. And don't forget to look out for the animals in the RV. Halfmens are quite difficult to see, - look up onto the koppies - they blend into them. Enjoy your trip.

My wife and I will visit South Africa in September this year. We have so much that we want to do, and so little time! My questions regard Richtersveld. How far is it actually from Springbok to Sendelingsdrif via Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay? How long will it take to drive that distance? Is the road from Alexander Bay to the camp fairly good?

Our interest lies in the flora of the region and this trip will be a highlites only excursion with the direction to do it again in a few years in depth.

We plan to rent a passenger sedan. From what I see, we should be able to fill two days near Sendelingsdrif and get around by car. Is this correct?

Is there another reasonable way to leave the park and return to N7? Should we plan to return via Port Nolloth?

Hi Buck

You will need a vehicle with high ground clearance to enter this park - a sedan won't cut it - in fact, the park rangers won't even let you in with a sedan. I would suggest renting something like a Subaru with all-wheel-drive or a small 4 wheel drive to visit. You can rent vehicles like this anywhere.

visit the following link - it'll give you a good idea of distances, and also has nice pictures. The author kept an accurate trip log you can have a look at.

September is going to be busy in the park - get your bookings sorted asap if you intend to stay over.

have a good trip!

Will

http://home.mweb.co.za/zs/zs6phd/Nama_index.htm

Does anyone have an update on the state of access routes into the RNP? I saw the pics of the bridge near Port Nolloth being obliterated by floods - Scaaaary stuff.
Will

Hey Will
I emailed the Richtersveld directly and they told me that there is a detour around the bridge and that after the rain the park is now only suitable for 4x4 vehicles.

I also would like to ask about the alternative route to the N7 via the Helskloof pass. Ideally I would like to leave the RNP this way rather than go back via Alexander Bay/Port Nolloth etc.

I have a 4x4 and want to know how viable it is to return to the N7 via Eksteenfontein -> Helskloof pass -> Vioolsdruft. What are the roads like and how long is this likely to take compared to the other way?