First desert botanical garden opens up in South Africa
South Africa’s very first desert botanical garden has officially opened in |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.
Richtersveld gets first-ever desert botanical garden
The Sendelingsdrift Rest Camp on the Richtersveld side of the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park now proudly boasts the country’s first desert botanical garden.
According to Tourism Update, this new garden is a collaboration between the South African National Parks (SANParks) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), and features 24 themed floral beds showcasing the unique flora of South Africa’s desert biome.
The garden is the work of SANParks resident botanist Pieter van Wyk, who transformed an indigenous nursery in what is now the Richtersveld Desert Botanical Garden.
The Richtersveld region is renowned for having the highest percentage of succulent plants in the world. However, over 400 of these species are now threatened with extinction due to mining, poaching, overgrazing, and climate change.
SANParks to kick off National Parks Week 2024
South African National Parks (SAParks) also recently revealed the dates for their annual free access to national parks week.
In a statement, SANParks said that the 19th annual SA free access week will be held from 9 to 13 September 2024 and extended to 14 and 15 September at selected national parks.
“During this period free access is granted to most of the 21 national parks under the management of South African National Parks.” the parks body said in the statement.
The |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is on the list of national parks which will be free to visit during the National Parks Week.
What is free week?
Each year, SANParks hosts the free week as an initiative aimed at linking the SA national parks system to the global national movement and to showcase the best of South Africa’s national parks. The free week also provides all South Africans with the opportunity to explore their local National Park at absolutely no cost.
Free Week has seen an influx of day visitors in all participating parks since its inception in 2006. SANParks also uses this time to cultivate a sense of pride in South Africa’s natural, cultural and historical heritage as protected and preserved by the national parks system.