Local municipality · Namakwa District # Richtersveld Richtersveld is a local municipality of South Africa in Namakwa District, Nothern Cape Province. It had an estimated 13,164 people in 2020 on 9,608 km² (about 1.4 per km²). 32 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 32 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 13,164 people (2020) - 9,608 km² - 32 mapped services - 204 m typical elevation ## How many people live in Richtersveld? Richtersveld had an estimated 13,164 people in 2020 — 11.2% of Namakwa District, 186th of 190 local municipalities. There are 866 women for every 1,000 men (below the Namakwa District figure of 948). Spread over 9,608 km², that is about 1.4 people per km², 183rd of 190 local municipalities. 22.8% of people are children under 15 and 7.0% are 65 or older; the median age is about 33 years (it is 33 across Namakwa District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 43 children and older people. - 0–4 874 - 5–9 1,017 - 10–14 1,115 - 15–19 836 - 20–24 784 - 25–29 1,175 - 30–34 1,266 - 35–39 1,211 - 40–44 1,138 - 45–49 965 - 50–54 734 - 55–59 611 - 60–64 513 - 65–69 436 - 70–74 223 - 75–79 165 - 80+ 101 Source: Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO). ## Where is Richtersveld? Richtersveld lies in Namakwa District, Nothern Cape Province, South Africa. It borders 1 other local municipality: Nama Khoi. By area it is the 33rd largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 7.6% of Namakwa District. The centre of Richtersveld is about 1,158 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 133 km from Springbok, the main town of Namakwa District. The centre point is at 28.7739° S, 16.9710° E. Local names: NC061. Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO). ## Things to see in and around Richtersveld OpenStreetMap lists 10 named sights in Richtersveld: 4 attractions; 4 museums; 1 archaeological site; 1 nature reserve. - Bushman Rock Monument (old nama marker to help them travel) · museum - Old Nama People Monument (used by the ancient Nama people as a waypoint during their travels) · museum - Port Nolloth Museum · museum - The New Aukwatowa Museum (formerly Port Nolloth Museum) · museum - Wondergat · archaeological site - Orange River Mouth Nature Reserve · nature reserve - Halfmens Plants · attraction - Halfmens Plants · attraction - Halfmens Plants · attraction - Hand of God · attraction Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements. Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed. ## Know before you go: Richtersveld - Time zone UTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg - Currency Rand (ZAR) - Country calling code +27 - Languages Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana - Plug types Type C, D · 230 V - Driving side Left - Postcode format 4 digits (####) ### Nearest airports - Oranjemund Airport (OMD) · Oranjemund 55 km - Luderitz Airport (LUD) · Luderitz 288 km ### Daylight Days are longest in Dec (about 14.0 hours, sunrise around 05:48) and shortest in Jun (about 10.3 hours, sunrise around 07:42, sunset around 18:01). Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain). Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling. ## Villages and localities in Richtersveld Open gazetteers list 32 villages, towns and localities in Richtersveld. The largest with a recorded population: Alexander Bay (1,736). Settlements here lie between about 11 m and 649 m above sea level (median 204 m). - Alexander Bay - Annisfontein - Auchas - Daberas - Doringrivier - Drifsand - Eksteenfontein - Gemsbokvlei - Green Island - Grootderm - Holgat - Jakkalsputs - Karoedap - Khubus - Kliphoogte - Koeskop - Kortdoorn - Kouefontein - Kuboes - Lekkersing - McDougall's Bay - Modderfontein - Oena Mine - Port Nolloth - Sabiesies - Sanddrif - Sanddrift - Sendelingsdrif - Struishoek - Visagiesfontein - Wolfberg - Zwartwater Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements. ## Landscape and landmarks of Richtersveld Named natural and historic features inside Richtersveld, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 19 rivers and streams. - Abiekwarivier - Ankamsrivier - Annisrivier - Bakrivier - Blokwerfrivier - Deurloop - Doringpoortrivier - Gaigasrivier - Gannakouriep - Gqaygas River - Groenkloofrivier - Holgatrivier - Kookrivier - Kouamsrivier - Nomsrivier - Oudannisieprivier - Stinkfontein se Rivier - Tcoesab River - Vanzylsrivier ### Coast and islands 10 headlands; 7 islands. - Cliff Point - Gooappunt - Green Island - Grootpenseiland - Holgatpunt - Klipneuseiland - Long Island - Long Island - North Point - Sand Island - Sand Island - Sandown Point - South Point - Wedge Point - White Point - Wreck Point - Wreck Point ### Hills and mountains 68 mountains; 59 hills; 10 valleys; 9 mountain passes. - Cornellsberg · 1,361 m - Vandersterrberg · 1,286 m - Rosyntjieberg · 1,281 m - Quaxous · 1,210 m - The Watchtower · 1,138 m - Oemsberg · 1,029 m - Tatasberg · 1,022 m - Mount Terror · 1,011 m - Tswaïes · 978 m - Kodaspiek · 970 m - Black Face Mountain · 941 m - Devil’s Tooth · 934 m - Peilkop · 924 m - Goariep · 918 m - Ione Ridge · 898 m - Mount Ereubus · 872 m - Dun · 870 m - Witbakensberg · 861 m - Mount Stewart · 849 m - Rooiberg · 823 m - Tierkloof se Berge · 813 m - Jenkins Kop · 807 m - Khubusberg · 805 m - Doringrivier · 796 m …and 122 more. ### Forests and nature 1 nature reserve. - Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape ### Getting around 4 airfields; 2 airports; 1 bridge. - Alexander Bay - Alexander Bay Airport - Aubeep Flats - Daberas - Drifsand - Grasdrif South - Sir Ernest Oppenheimer Bridge Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features. Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate. ## Weather in Richtersveld and the best time to visit Using the climate of Namakwa District, the warmest month is Jan (average 29 °C) and the coolest is Jul (14 °C), after allowing for this place being about 620 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 162 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Apr (23 mm) and the driest Sep (5 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are March to December. - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec | Month | Average °C | Rain mm | | Jan | 29 | 11 | | Feb | 29 | 15 | | Mar | 27 | 20 | | Apr | 23 | 23 | | May | 18 | 17 | | Jun | 14 | 14 | | Jul | 14 | 13 | | Aug | 15 | 10 | | Sep | 19 | 5 | | Oct | 23 | 10 | | Nov | 25 | 9 | | Dec | 28 | 15 | Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29. ## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Richtersveld | Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | | | School | Sonneblommetjies Kleuterskool · Richtersveld | 28 km | Map | Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km. ## Hospitals, banks and other services in Richtersveld Places mapped inside Richtersveld in open map data, by type. - Hospitals 2 - Banks 1 - Petrol pumps 1 - Hotels 10 - Schools 13 - Restaurants 5 Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Other local municipalities in Namakwa District - Hantam - Kamiesberg - Karoo Hoogland - Khâi-Ma - Nama Khoi ## Quick answers - Where is Richtersveld? In Namakwa District, Nothern Cape Province, South Africa - What is the population of Richtersveld? 13,164 (2020 estimate) - What is the median age in Richtersveld? About 33 years (2020 estimate) - What is the population density of Richtersveld? About 1.4 people per km² - What borders Richtersveld? Nama Khoi - What is there to see in Richtersveld? Bushman Rock Monument (old nama marker to help them travel), Halfmens Plants, Halfmens Plants, Halfmens Plants - What time zone is Richtersveld in? UTC+2 - What currency is used in Richtersveld? Rand (ZAR) - What language is spoken in Richtersveld? Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally) - How many villages are in Richtersveld? 32 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of Richtersveld? Settlements lie between 11 m and 649 m - What is the highest point in Richtersveld? Cornellsberg (1,361 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit Richtersveld? March to December - How many hospitals are in Richtersveld? 2 mapped - How many banks are in Richtersveld? 1 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in Richtersveld? 1 mapped - What is the P-code of Richtersveld? ZA3061 (OCHA common operational dataset) At a glance - Type: Local municipality - Area: 9,607.7 km² - P-code: ZA3061 - District: Namakwa District - Main town: Port Nolloth --- Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/nothern-cape/namakwa/richtersveld/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.