Formed in 2003, the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park united Namibia’s Ai-Ais Hot Springs Park and South Africa’s Richtersveld National Park into a single, cross-country entity. Though it may appear barren at first glance, this rugged wilderness shelters an astounding profusion of endemic and indigenous plants that are adapted to the arid environment, as well as a profusion of small mammals and reptiles. Other highlights of the park include the famous Fish River Canyon (the second-largest of its kind on the planet), the enthralling Orange River and its mountain backdrop, and the mineral-rich Ai-Ais hot springs.