AFRICAN TOURS

Richtersveld Photography Tour

TOUR INFORMATION

Duration

10 days / 9 nights

Format

4 x 4 with Tented Accommodation

(Approximately 800 km)

2 x 4 bakkie with diff-lock and high ground clearance can also be used

Next tours

18-27 September 2025

Cost

R22 775 per person (2025)

Max Amount of Persons

16 guests

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

Included:

3 meals a day from dinner day 1 to dinner of day 9
Guide, chef & photographic instructor
All park fees
9 night’s accommodation
Proper in-car radios
Tents & cutlery

Not included:

Vehicle costs for example fuel & border crossings.
Personal beverages and snacks.
Bedding and mattresses.
Visas if required.

TOUR PLAN

Come and experience the Richtersveld in all its glory with well-known photo journalist Toast Coetzer en Heuningland Tours.

Day 1: Orange River

Running water and hot showers

When you arrive at our campsite situated on the banks of the Orange River near Vioolsdrift where the coffee pot will already be brewing on the fire.

Your tents will be set up and you can unpack and relax next to the river.

Late afternoon we take a short drive to a very special and beautiful spot where we will enjoy sundowners and watch the sun sink beyond the distant ridges. While the crew prepares your dinner and you relax around the fire, your guide will provide a detailed briefing on what you can expect over the next 10 days.

From this point, we will traverse dirt roads until the end of the tour.

Day 2: Old Farm - Camping wild

No running water: hot bucket showers and dry toilet

After an early breakfast, you will stop at some San hieroglyphs and pile some stones on cairns. We will then enter the Richtersveld Conservation Area and drive to Eksteenfontein, a small nomadic livestock farming town on the edge of the Richtersveld World Heritage Site.

Eksteenfontein is one of three little settlements in the RichtersveldCommunity Conservancy and it is here where you will learn about the history of this community, the Bosluisbasters, and Nama people who farm on this remarkable cultural and botanical landscape.

Exiting Eksteenfontein, we will enter a huge sand valley with a lovely view. This is one of my secret roads and we will traverse an open pan with a windmill and great photographic opportunities.

We will camp about 1km from the windmill for those that want to enjoy the sunset.

Day 3: Tierhoek - Camping wild

No running water: hot bucket showers and dry toilet

We will get to visit an old quartz mine on a hill overlooking Lekkersing (one of the Richtersveld towns). Due to the quartz there are also some interesting plants on the hill.

This is followed by a drive to the Ice Cream Valley to enjoy the views. After lunch we will make our way to Tierhoek, which is set amongst huge granite boulders. We will be camping wild tonight, but our crew will ensure that you are most comfortable. Although there is no running water – we will enjoy hot bucket showers against an overwhelmingly beautiful backdrop.

The peace and tranquillity of this remarkable mountain desert wilderness will make camping under the stars a memorable experience.

Days 4 & 5: De Hoop

Flushing toilets and cold water showers / no electricity / No potable water

Arriving at Sendelingsdrift will give us the opportunity to refill our water and fuel before entering the Richtersveld National Park.

Today will be spent driving through the Richtersveld mountains along steep and very twisty roads, via the renowned, Akkedis Pass, before arriving at our next campsite at De Hoop.

Set on the banks of the Orange River this campsite offers soft sand next to the river suitable for swimming, bathing and fishing.

On our first morning in De Hoop we get to lie in and enjoy a slightly later breakfast than during the previous days. Today you can enjoy exploring some of the richest desert flora in the world, the diverse spectrum of small reptiles, birds and mammals while in camp, take a short drive to the Richtersberg campsite or just relax.

Enjoy the evening in this special mountain desert wilderness area, around the campfire, quietly soaking in the unique vegetation and wildlife.

Day 6 & 7: Kokerboomkloof

Flush Toilets but no water on site

The distinctive vegetation continues as we continue deeper into the Richtersveld National Park and head towards our campsite situated between Quiver trees – considered popular photographic subjects both at sunrise and sunset and indigenous to this region.

As we will be staying for 2 nights, sunset will be enjoyed on a granite rock or between the quiver trees. This is the perfect place to relax with binoculars and allow the stresses of the modern world to melt away. There is nothing to distract your attention from the raw, rugged beauty and incredible silence.

Dinner will be served around the campfire surrounded by these unusual but iconic trees.

Day 8: Springklip - Camping wild

No running water, bucket showers and dry toilets

At this time of the year the Richtersveld is exquisite and we will head up Helskloof Pass – a long slow pass to traverse, but with visual rewards that makes it well worth the drive. The area is renowned for its specialised endemic vegetation that includes an incredible variety of ancient succulents and unique aloes found nowhere else on earth (e.g. Pearson’s Aloes).

Situated in the heart of the Richtersveld – our travels will take us to the remote and dry town of Kuboes, home of one of the oldest indigenous groups in Namibia, and descendants of the Khoikhoi – the Nama people.

We will overnight on a “koppie” overlooking small dunes. The vistas from here are quite something.

Although 30km away we might experience the “malmokkie” (mist) rolling in from the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Day 9: McDougalls Bay

All amenities available: hot showers & flushing toilets & maybe a BATH

Leaving our informal campsite after breakfast, we will drive over the small dunes to Alexander Bay in the extreme north-western part of South Africa.

Depending on the tides and flood levels, we will foot it to the mouth of the Orange River.

From Alexander Bay to Port Nolloth we will travel on a tarred road for about 95km with chocolates at Spar.

We will overnight at McDougalls Bay, 4km south of Port Nolloth in formal accommodation with bedding and towels.

Our seaside cottages are on the beach and a stone’s throw from the surf. We endeavour to arrive mid-afternoon, so we can enjoy this beautiful hidden gem in the Northern Cape.

For dinner we do a snoek braai.

Day 10: Home

Due to some guests that want to lie in, walk on the beach or leave early, we don’t serve breakfast the last morning. There will be tea and coffee available at the houses.

Sadly, our exploration of the Northern Cape & Richtersveld Trans Frontier Park will come to an end.

From McDougalls it is an easy drive to Springbok and onward back home.

You can also travel via the small diamond mining town of Kleinzee, Koingnaas and the tiny picturesque village of Hondeklip Bay!

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