LIFE IN THE RICHTERSVELD

Hendrik Prins has been the hospitality manager of the park for the last seven years. He makes sure the campsites and wilderness camps are maintained – or as he puts it: “It’s my job to keep you happy and make you smile.” What’s your favourite place in the park? Kokerboomkloof – it’s unique. There’s always something to surprise me, whether it’s a tree that has fallen over or a sudden rainshower. How do you survive the summer? You get used to it. From November to February the temperature often exceeds 40° C. On average, Kokerboomkloof is the hottest place in the park, but the highest temperature we’ve recorded was 62° C in the shade in the Gannakouriep riverbed. I didn’t see a lot of game… The park does have wildlife, including gemsbok, springbok, kudu, red hartebeest and mountain zebra, but you won’t often see the animals. They prefer the deep mountain kloofs where there are natural springs, or they stay near the Orange River. But they’re shy and they’ll move off when they hear vehicles approaching. I saw fresh big cat spoor at Tatasberg. Could it have been a leopard? For sure. I followed the spoor of a male leopard up and down the course of a dry riverbed there. There’s often leopard spoor in the area between Richtersberg and Tatasberg, where there are some herder outposts. Tell us about the relationship between park rangers and the herders in the park. The rangers and herders get along. If there’s conflict, we sort it out. We have to keep the peace. The places you see in the park aren’t settlements, they’re outposts. You’ll usually see a cooking shelter next to the herder’s camp. The herder mostly sleeps outside and keeps his or her cooking supplies and clothes inside the shelter. He or she will usually head out midmorning and follow the goats to the grazing fields. The herder returns to the outpost at night – the goats know when they should start walking back. How many herders are there in the park? A maximum of 36 are allowed, but there are currently only 33. In total, there shouldn’t be more than 6 600 goats in the park. They only farm with Boer goats. Any advice for people visiting the park in a 4x2? Stay away from the challenging passes like Domorogh. Akkedis Pass has one steep, rocky section and it’s easier to drive from east to west. To drive the pass in this direction, plan your route so you enter the park at Helspoort and exit at Sendelingsdrift.