The Nama-!Garib Geopark initiative is led by the Orange River–Karoo Conservation Area (ORKCA), the initial management body of the centrally situated conservation area.
NAMA-!GARIB LANDSCAPE
The Nama–!Garib landscape represents one of southern Africa’s most scientifically important geological regions, recording continental-scale tectonic, igneous, and metamorphic processes. The area exposes exceptional examples of Paleoproterozoic mobile belts, including prominent thrust zones and continental-scale shear zones.
Key geological features include the Richtersveld Magmatic Arc, represented by the Pella Domain gneiss complex, the Lower Fish River–Onseepkans Thrust Zone, marking a major tectonic boundary, and sections of the Marshall Rocks–Pofadder Shear Zone.
The landscape includes the flat, grass-covered plains of the Warmbad Plateau in the northeast and the incised Orange River valley and surrounding mountain systems such as the Kum Kum and Tantalite valleys to the southeast. These features provide outstanding opportunities to understand Earth’s geological history and the processes that shaped the southern African continent.
NAMA COMMUNITY
Approximately 1,300 people live within the Nama-!Garib Geopark area (Warmbad), the majority of whom are Nama, the indigenous people of the region. The Nama people have a rich cultural history and deep knowledge of the land, developed through generations of living along the Orange River (!Garib) in a harsh, arid environment.
The culture, language (Khoekhoegowab), traditional practices, and historical sites are closely connected to the geological and natural landscape. The area includes significant cultural and historical sites, including old settlements, rock engravings, and places linked to Nama resistance leaders such as Captain Hendrik Witbooi, whose papers are inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
ORKCA, together with the Nama Traditional Authority, supports the revival of Nama language, cultural festivals, heritage education, and the protection of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage within the Geopark.
Wildlife, Biodiversity & Conservation
The Nama-!Garib Geopark lies at the meeting point of the Nama Karoo, Succulent Karoo, and desert biomes, forming a rare ecotone of high ecological value. This region supports rich biodiversity, including endangered and endemic succulent plant species that depend on specific geological conditions.
The Nama-!Garib includes the only protected area hosting this unique combination of biomes. Through large-scale conservation and rewilding efforts, ORKCA is restoring ecological connectivity and allowing natural systems to recover.
Free-roaming wildlife such as oryx, springbok, eland, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, leopard, brown hyena, and other arid-adapted species occur at low densities. Conservation activities focus on habitat restoration, protection of rare plant species, and rebuilding resilient ecosystems capable of withstanding climate change.