Richtersveld Local Municipality lies in the far north-west of the Northern Cape, in Namakwa District. The 2022 census recorded 24,235 people over 9,608 kmยฒ, up sharply from 11,982 in 2011. The seat is Port Nolloth, on the Atlantic coast.
Towns and Villages in Richtersveld
Settlements cluster along the lower Orange River and the coast, with the rugged Richtersveld interior sparsely populated and given over largely to communal land and conservation.
| Place | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Port Nolloth | Seat / coastal town | Diamond port, 6,092 people (2011) |
| Alexander Bay | Town | Orange River mouth, diamond mining, 1,736 people |
| Eksteenfontein | Village | Richtersveld interior |
| Lekkersing | Village | Richtersveld interior |
| Khubus | Village | Mission-founded settlement, also spelled Kuboes |
- Port Nolloth
- Alexander Bay
- Eksteenfontein
- Lekkersing
- Khubus (Kuboes)
- Annisfontein
- Auchas
- Daberas
- Doringrivier
- Drifsand
- Green Island
- Grootderm
- Holgat
- Jakkalsputs
- Karoedap
- Kliphoogte
- Koeskop
- Kortdoorn
- Kouefontein
- Modderfontein
- Sabiesies
- Sanddrif
- Struishoek
- Visagiesfontein
- Wolfberg
- Zwartwater
Geography
Richtersveld borders Nama Khoi to the south and east, Namibia’s วKaras Region across the Orange River to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, covers much of the mountainous, semi-desert interior, home to succulent plants found nowhere else on earth. The municipality is named after Reverend W. Richter, a missionary who founded a station at Kuboes in the 19th century.
Demographics
Population more than doubled from 11,982 in 2011 to 24,235 in 2022, one of the sharpest growth rates in Namakwa District. Coloured residents make up 73.2% of the population, and Afrikaans is the first language of 87.0%. Growth has been strongest in Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay, tied to mining-sector activity, while the interior Richtersveld villages of Eksteenfontein, Lekkersing and Kuboes have stayed small and largely stable in population, governed under communal land arrangements rather than freehold title.
Economy and Local Life
Diamond mining has driven the local economy since deposits were found near Port Nolloth in 1925 and at the Orange River mouth near Alexander Bay in 1927. The Baken diamond mine near Sanddrif remains active. Fishing and small-scale tourism around the Richtersveld World Heritage Site support the coastal towns, and cross-border trade with Namibia adds to the local economy near the river villages. Small-scale irrigated farming of dates and vegetables along the Orange River supplements incomes in Sanddrif, Eksteenfontein and the other interior villages, where communal grazing land also supports goat and sheep herding in the traditional Nama pastoral style.
Getting There
Port Nolloth lies on the N7/R382 route, about 100 km west of Springbok and roughly 550 km north of Cape Town. Alexander Bay has a small regional airport, and gravel roads link the interior Richtersveld villages of Eksteenfontein and Lekkersing.
History
Nama pastoralist communities have herded livestock across the Richtersveld for centuries, and communal land tenure still shapes settlement patterns in villages like Eksteenfontein, Lekkersing and Kuboes today. The area’s modern history turned on diamonds: after the 1925 discovery near Port Nolloth and the 1927 Orange River mouth strike, the coastline became one of South Africa’s most tightly controlled mining zones, with entire towns built around company operations. The Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2007, recognising the area’s living Nama pastoral tradition alongside its unique flora.
FAQ
What is the seat of Richtersveld Local Municipality?
Port Nolloth.
How many people live in Richtersveld?
24,235 at the 2022 census.
Which district and province is it in?
Namakwa District, Northern Cape.
What is the local economy based on?
Diamond mining, fishing and tourism around the Richtersveld World Heritage Site.
What are the main towns?
Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay.
What is the Richtersveld known for?
Its UNESCO-listed cultural and botanical landscape of rare succulent plants.