10 years ago, the historically disadvantaged people of the Richtersveld united, reclaimed title to their traditional land, and set it aside as conservancy to be forever conserved for research and tourism. It is the last refuge of Nama people living what is known as the transhumance lifestyle - to migrate seasonally with their livestock from mountains to the river and so make sustainable use of the fragile succulent ecosystem.

In recognition of this vanishing lifestyle, and of the rare botanical diversity it helps protect, the Conservancy has been declared the core of a new World Heritage Site.