The arid North-West

The north-western corner of South Africa, at the border with Namibia, is one of the most arid areas of the Earth. In September 2015 I went to the Ai/Ais - Richtersveld National Park and to the Augrabies Falls National Park. Although both parks are crossed by the mighty Orange River, the longest river of South Africa, they are absolutely dry. They are home to some unique species of trees, found only here in the wild, like the Kokerboom (Aloe spp.) and the Halfmens (Pachypodium namaquanum), as they are called in Afrikaans, the most spoken language in this region. Strange enough, when I was there the sky was overcast for most of the time, which added a dramatic touch to the beautiful and wild desert landscapes.