One of the biggest parks in Southern Africa, the Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park was established through a treaty signed in Windhoek between South Africa and Namibia. This treaty meant that the border between the two countries was opened where the Namibian Hot Springs Game Park met with the South African Richtersveld National Park. The cooperation has resulted in the creation of a massive tourist attraction.

With over five thousand square kilometers of land, the Richtersveld National Park is a massive display of the unique beauty of this dry region. The park is perhaps best known for the Fish River Canyon, which people often compare to the American Grand Canyon, yet the biodiversity of this arid region cannot be ignored.

In the early hours of the morning a fog moves in from the Atlantic Ocean, providing moisture for the hardy succulents that make a home for themselves between the rocks that give this area so much character. The expansive mountain dessert region is host to an impressive variety of smaller reptiles, birds and animals. Some of the plant life is unique to the area, and visitors will appreciate the character-rich quiver trees, tall aloes and peculiar “half-mens” which stand firmly in defiance of the elements.

When visiting the Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park make sure not to leave without spotting the Rock Hyrax, the entertaining Ground Squirrels, the Jackal Buzzard or Hartmann's Mountain Zebra. There are many projects being developed by the park's management, including guided vehicle tours, hiking trails, camping areas, river rafting and canoeing, mountain biking, horse and camel trails as well as botanical, ornithological, geographic and cultural tours. Contact the park to ensure that your activity of choice will be catered for.

The formation of this park, and in particular the incorporation of local people into the park's management, has been sighted as a role model system and as a fresh way of operating conservation areas. There is also talk of expanding the park in the future, possibly to the extent that it will incorporate or merge with Iona National Park in Angola and the Augrabies Falls National Park in South Africa. Such expansion would see the formation of the world's third largest conservation area, covering some nineteen million hectares.

It is essential to have a high clearance vehicle to access the park, with a 4x4 being by far the best option. City vehicles or sedans are not allowed into the park.