The group consisted of 1x Patrol 4500GRX and 1x LR Disco 3 with a medium sized off road trailer. We were quite heavily laden.
Alexander Bay is not particularly exciting. Port Nolloth, Springbok and Kuboes is well worth a visit. We liked Potjiespram more than De Hoop because De Hoop was crowded and did not have much grass. Potjiespram I think is under-estimated because people do no look around properly before they select a camp site. Potjiespram has some very nice camp sites, but you have to look for them. Do not take the first site that presents itself.
I would suggest that you need about fourteen days to explore the National Park and the World Heritage Site properly.
The organisation in both the National Park and the World Heritage Site is somewhat informal, but we had no difficulties.
The corrugations were terrible and some screws, nuts and bolts worked loose and had to be tightened every second day.
All camp sites in the Richtersveld National park were well appointed, except that some had no water.
Baboons and monkeys can present a problem, but we experienced no problems. We saw only one scorpion and one snake in a matter of ten days.
Akkedis Pass presented a few chalenges (nothing a Patrol coud not handle).
Kokerboomkloof was the highlight of the trip and is a must.
The World Heritage Site was a different matter. It was harsh terrain, difficult and slow. There was absolutely no water.
Tierhoek, Fluorspar Valley and Sun Valley was an experience of note. Very, very few people ever go there.
If you see a Halfmens, take a pic, because they are very scarce. We unfortunatelty did not travel through Halfmenspas.
I have a 4500GRX Manual and the fuel consumption overall was 17,7 l/100km. The worst consumption was in Akkedispas at 31l/100km.
I have a 90lt tank and carried an extra 60 lt in jerry cans, but it turned out that it was not necessary. I carried 50lt of water and it proved to be adequate for four people for drinking and cooking purposes whilst in the Richtersveld. We showered were water was available on site. This meant that we could shower eight out of the ten day we were in the Richtersveld.
We even got caught in some light rain whilst in the World Heritage Site. The temperatures averaged between 37 and 43 Degrees C whilst in the Richtersveld (April 2012). The wind was never a problem.
If you travel through the Richtersveld watch out for sharp stones which could damage your side walls. Flash floods are a possibilty, but rare.
The further west you travel form Pretioria, the more expensive the fuel gets.
Do not expect to do any significant shopping in Alexander Bay and Sendeleingsdrif. The shops provide the BARE BASICS. Do your final important shopping in Upington if you come from Pretoria.
The people, especially the Namas were very friendly.
If anybody requires any additional information, please send me a PM and we can arrange a meeting to exchange more information.
Herewith some pics below.
- Typical Richtersveld scene
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- Kokerboomkloof at sunrise (by Melissa Jordaan (15))
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- Richtersveld World Heritage Site
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- Rainbow at Sunvalley in the World Heritage Site
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- Deep in the World Heritage Site
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- My son Ben at a typical wreck not far from Eksteenfontein
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- A typical mountain scenery in the Richtersveld
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- Testing the suspension a tiny bit.
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- A Kokerboom
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- Running in a flood plain
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- On the way to De Hoop
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- A little obstacle
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- The beech at Alexander Bay near the Orange River Mouth
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- This pic was taken in pitch darkness.
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