South Africa contains the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape.
The Richtersveld lies in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province, near the border with Namibia. It is a rugged desert region known for dramatic mountains, extreme aridity, and exceptional succulent plant diversity. The landscape is also the traditional home of the Nama people.
The Nama maintain a semi-nomadic pastoral culture adapted to the desert environment. Seasonal movement, livestock herding, traditional shelters, and knowledge of local plants are important parts of the area’s cultural heritage.
The Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. It is often confused with the adjacent Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, which crosses the South Africa–Namibia border. The UNESCO cultural landscape is on the South African side.