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LLegend has it that the Richtersveld halfmens derives its name from the ancestors of the Bushmen who were driven south by warlike tribes from the north. Some turned to look back across the Orange River and were turned into halfmens (half people), forever gazing northwards.
The mirage-like landscape of the Northern Cape hides one of nature's great gifts to the world: the Richtersveld National Park, which contains South Africa's only mountainous desert. This remote, harsh environment is famous for its great diversity of succulent plants, which store water in their trunks or leaves and so can survive the long, dry periods common to this region. One of the most famous plants is the noordpool (North Pole) or halfmens plant (half-person).
The plant can be recognised by its distinctive rosette of leaves, resembling a green afro set atop a narrow trunk that can grow to as tall as 3m. From a distance the plant is often said to resemble a small person, hence the name.
Most odd is that the crown of the Richtersveld halfmens always leans slightly to the north, which is why some refer to the succulent as the noordpool.
The Pachypodium namaquanum, as botanists call it, is extremely slow growing, gaining a modest 0.5cm to 1.5cm in height each year. Some of the bigger plants can age to more than 100 years, reaching heights of 4m or 5m although, on average, they tend to be about 2m tall, flowering from July to September.
The halfmens contains poisonous alkaloids, and its sap was traditionally used for arrow poison.
It is said that when the spines on the halfmens' stem are stroked, the plant produces a series of clicking sounds that supposedly mimics the clicks of the Nama language (one of South Africa's earliest known people from the Northern Cape region of Namaqualand).
Visiting the Richtersveld with its abundant wildlife, desolate landscapes and enigmatic flora is a must for any nature enthusiast, and an encounter with the halfmens is a definite highlight on any flora fundi's life list.
Did You Know?
TTravel tips & planning info
Who to contact
Richtersveld National Park
Tel: +27 (0)21 853 7952
Email: info@richtersveldnationalpark.com
|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park
Tel: +27 (0)12 428 9111 (central SANParks reservations)
Email: reservations@sanparks.org
How to get here
|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is located in the far north-western region of the Northern Cape Province and lies alongside the Orange River, which forms the border between South Africa and Namibia.
Best time to visit
The park is open all year round.
Get around
The area is accessible by 4x4 or by paddling down the Orange River.
What will it cost?
Standard conservation fee is around R100 per adult, per day, and R50 per child, per day.
Length of stay
It may take some time to locate these plants, so allow for half to a full day.
What to pack
Insect repellent, cotton sheets to help keep insects at bay, binoculars and cameras, plastic refuse bags, a good supply of fresh water.
Where to stay
The park has a camp site and chalets to rent.
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