Here, while men were often away working on the mines, women of the area clubbed together to turn an old mining shack into a guesthouse for travellers passing through their town. Today they run a basic but comfortable guest house with four beds, a shower and fully equipped, self-catering kitchen.

With a few days notice the ladies of Eksteenfontein, or Xhobes as it's called in Nama, will bake fresh bread and cook meals for guests. The whole community has become involved in this project and the children have started a vegetable project at the guesthouse. If you are lucky the children may put on a play for you. A visit to the Eksteenfontein community guesthouse provides an interesting perspective of town life in the Richtersveld.

A few kilometres out of town, at the foot of a mountain looking out at a wide plain stretching to distant mountains and Halfmens trees, lies the communities’ newest project – Rooiberg.

The run down house was converted into a guesthouse and can be used as an environmental centre. It is possible to camp at Rooiberg, water must be obtained from town. Rooiberg offers visitors a true wilderness experience, guided walks, a chance to reflect and an excellent compliment to a taste of town life in the Richtersveld. At Rooiberg is an airstrip and helicopter landing place.

Accommodation: “ Kom rus ‘n bietjie” Guesthouse and Caravan Park. The guesthouse has 2 rooms and can accommodate 4 people. Contact: Tel: 027851 8755/8772