Richtersveld: Pont Availability

[JOHN DM]

I heard that the pont was not operating due to high water level; has the level dropped and is the pont operational again?
I am visiting the park at end of June.

[xmarksthespot]

I crossed on the pont from SA to Namibia on 14 Feb 2016 without problems, water level was pretty low.
Of course the pont's availability may have changed since. Given end June 2016 is 4 months away, I imagine that there a lot of things (not just river-level related) that could happen that could affect pont availability at the time you want to travel. I suggest you call Sendelingsdrif just before you travel to get the up-to-date status.

[barryels]

Dear JOHN DM,

Welcome to the forums .

I agree with xmarksthespot that it will be difficult to determine if the point will be operational during June and the best will be to call Sendelingsdrif before your departure.

[Son godin]

JOHN DM,

If you have FB join there page. The pontoon is currently open. Opening depend on weather conditions (winds) or river levels and will only know close to the time. It is more open than closed, but one needs to work in an extra day just in case it will be closed.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/22117302912/

Will you be travelling from Namibia or to Namibia?

[JOHN DM]

Thanks for your replies, we are travelling from SA to Namibia, spending 8 days in Richtersveld, intending to cross at sendelingsdrif on 9 July.
Will take your advice and join FB page also call sendelingsdrif before leaving.

[parkarch]

The Ai-Ais Richtersveld section of the SanParks website says the pont is currently closed indefinitely due to sandbank problems. I am hoping to cross from Namibia on 17th May. If the pont is closed can I cross at Oranjemund in order to get to Sendelingsdrift and enter the park there?
Michael Parkin

[Malbec]

What can i do if the ferry isnt available if I want to go to Sendelingsdrift restcamp coming from Rosh Pinah and have a reservation?

[biddy]

Does anyone know whether the pont over the Orange River at Sendelingsdrif is open?

[Jonkers]

Newsflash van Nadia L op Sanparks AI ais richtersveld facebook dated 18 january

quote:
NEWSFLASH!!
Dear valued Stakeholders,
We would like to inform you that the water levels of the Orange River at Sendelingsdrift have risen considerably. The water level is currently at the edge of the concrete slab on the Namibian side and currently at 0.16m at the gauging weir compared to the 0.02m just a week ago.
We are preparing to re-open the Sendelingsdrift border post/pontoon on Friday 20th January 2017 at 8:00 giving us the next 2 days to monitor and make any changes if need be.

[George_Brits]

"mites,

I have seen that the pontoon operations have been closed due to the high water levels of the Orange river...

[Son godin]

"mites,

Please take note that due to very high water levels in the Orange River, the pontoon operations at Sendelingsdrift have been stopped indefinitely. We suggest that visitors planning to cross the border by means of the ferry make use of alternative routes such as Alexander Bay or Vioolsdrift

Wow. Two weeks ago it opened after is was closed due to too low water levels from Dec to Jan 2017.

I understand the Oranjemund option from Namibia is available even if you don't have a permit as it is no longer a private road. However you cannot enter the town without a permit.

[NadiaL]

Dear stakeholders.

Pontoon operations were halted on 18 December 2016 due to very low water levels. Fortunately it was re-opened on 20 January 2017 and the water level remained relatively constant. The last couple of days the water levels at Sendelingsdrift raised higher than normal due to a lower demand from the numerous agricultural requirements (the harvest season in full swing). This led to the pontoon operations being stopped indefinitely again on 13 February 2017. We will keep the public informed regarding this matter.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Regards,
Nadia

[DieterCapeTown791]

Is the pont across the Orange River currently open? Would like to use it on Sunday 4th March. Thanks.

[shfish]

Hi Henrifrancois

Sendelingsdrift is a border post so I'm quite sure you can enter the Richtersveld/RSA through there. There's a pont to take you across the river which should be quite an experience! However, when you are in Ais-Ais/Fish River, I recommend that you make sure that the pont is operating as ocassionally it is closed due to high river levels.
Look out for the Goliath Heron on the river banks - it's always an impressive sighting!

[henrifrancois]

Hi good morning,
thanks for your advice, i suppose that september is the beginning of the dry season ? the water level begins to go down ? or am i quite wrong?
Sorry i understand your information because in french "pont" is the translation of "bridge" but for you "pont" is like a small ferry boat so i understand why the conditions of the flows of the rivers are important to know !
Best regards