South Africa’s first-ever desert botanical garden opens its doors
South Africa has unveiled its first desert botanical garden at the Sendelingsdrift Rest Camp in the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The Richtersveld Desert Botanical Garden, transformed from an indigenous nursery, is the brainchild of Pieter van Wyk, South African National Parks' (SANParks) resident botanist.
This unique garden comprises 24 beds, each with its own distinct theme, showcasing the diverse flora of the region. The project aims to highlight and preserve the area's rich botanical heritage.
The Sendelingsdrift Rest Camp, designed to resemble an old mining camp, offers accommodation in ten chalets and camping facilities for visitors. It serves as the entry point to the South African (Richtersveld) side of the Transfrontier Park and houses a border post leading to the Namibian section.
This innovative botanical garden is expected to attract nature enthusiasts and researchers alike, offering a rare opportunity to explore and study desert plant species in their natural habitat. The opening marks a significant step in promoting eco-tourism and botanical research in this unique cross-border conservation area shared by South Africa and Namibia.
Source: TravelNews