Richtersveld - August 2012 - including Riemvasmaak, Augrabies Falls, The Namaqua 4x4 Route and The Namaqualand Flowers

We have been to the Richtersveld area a number of times and some dear friends in the Cape asked us to take them there. After a visit to the Cape the itinerary was agreed and we returned home to make the bookings. This took some time but eventually we sorted everything out.

The agreed meeting place was Khamkirri - the reason for this was we planned a luxury camp site for the first night. Wow - showers and toilets did not work - and in spite of people being around nothing had been tested. No wonder the owner fled when he heard that I had arrived. (He had met me before when we were there with The Land Cruiser Club.)

From there we visited the pool at Riemvasmaak - I could spend even more time there.

Augrabies Falls was next and we spent the night there and took in the views then next day.

At Klein Pella, Glenda again looked after us like royalty, although we only camped there. We had dinner on the verandah which was exceptional.

From there we headed for the Richtersveld. Tierhoek Cave area is now a well used dump for toilet paper - hence my refusal to write an article for Wegry which could advertise some special place to the filthy public.

At De Hoop we found the camp site overflowing with people. We used that camp as a base and explored from there. The scenery was exceptional in the park as always. Our friends parted ways as we left the park.

The flowers were just starting to bloom on hills when we returned.

We spent the night at Springbok where the person looking after Springbok Lodge asked if we were married. You can not even begin to imagine what I was tempted to tell him.

Kammieskroon Hotel was next on the list of places to visit and we spent a very enjoyable evening there.

To end off we went to The Baths at Citrusdal where we could only get into a chalet. This was also a delight as we had our own hot water tub. We left there at 7am and returned home just after 1am the following morning.

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Some of the group posing near the Riemvasmaak sign.

The scenery above the hot spring at Riemvasmaak.

The spring with the sprung.

A view of the Orange River below Augrabies Falls.

Another view of the Orange River.

Along the Namaqua 4x4 route.

Ramansdrif Camp Site on the Namaqua 4x4 route.

A Kokerboom.

On the Namaqua 4x4 route.

Halfmens plants.

A Halfmens in bud.

A Klipspringer.

Boesmanskers.

Petroglyphs. These are being defaced by passers by and this is another tragedy.

Stones piled up by passers by - an attraction but not approved by all.

Tierhoek Campsite. (In future it could be named "The Place of Toilet Paper".)

A lovely big scorpion.

And then home.