Sanddrif is a town in Richtersveld Local Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River.

[3] Mining in the region began in the 1900s leading to the displacement of the indigenous Nama people.

Diamond mines were again established in the 1970s, bringing a source of employment but also socio-economic upheaval, threatening the traditional Nama lifestyle.

[3] The subsequent migration of Xhosa people who came to the area to work in the mines led Sanddrif to acquire the nickname of "Rainbow Town".

[5] The Baken diamond mine, located outside Sanddrif, was opened by Trans Hex Group in May 2001.