A Complete Guide to the Fish River Canyon
Published on July 4, 2021
12 min read
Did you know that Namibia is home to the world's second-largest canyon, second only to the Grand Canyon? What we do know is that the Fish River Canyon's stark, arid beauty will take your breath away - whether owing to the panoramic views from along the rim or quite literally if you brave the world-famous 90 km 5-day hike that meanders through the chasm. Expect uncrowded desert vistas of the 500 million-year-old canyon, its unique fauna and flora, rocky gorges and famed fiery sunsets. Whichever way you choose to experience it, marvelling at Namibia's greatest geological wonder is a bucket-list worthy adventure. It may come second in terms of size, but Africa's oldest and largest canyon is our number 1 ;)
For a comprehensive, all-you-need-to-know guide to Namibia’s majestic Fish River Canyon, read on.
Location
The mesmerising Fish River Canyon cuts through the Koubis massif in southern Namibia, from Seeheim to the Orange River at Namibia’s border with South Africa. The southern section of the 160 km long, 27 km wide canyon is in the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, at the southern tip of Namibia. It is the deepest in this region, reaching a staggering 550 m. Here you’ll find Hobas Rest Camp – the entrance to the canyon and the start of the Fish River hiking trail. Further south, deeper into the park, the 90 km hiking trail ends at the Ai-Ais Hotsprings and Spa, an oasis for hikers and non-hikers alike. The northern section of the Fish River Canyon extends into private nature reserves, Gondwana Nature Park, Vogelstrausskluft and Canyon Nature Park.
How to get there
By car
Despite its sprawling length, the canyon is surprisingly hard to access. The few gravel roads have deteriorated and you’ll need a high clearance vehicle to get by (but a 4x4 is not absolutely necessary). Check out Viatu’s self-driving tips.
The southern section
Hobas (Main) Viewpoint: From Karasburg and B1, take C12 to C37 to the main Fish River Canyon viewpoint. From Keetmanshoop, take B4 to C12, then to C37.
If you visit the canyon at Hobas, you may be required to pay a conservation fee of €2 (N$40) per person for foreigners, plus €0.5 (N$10) per car) upon entry. The gate and office are open daily from 6 am to 10 pm.
Ai-Ais: To go directly to Ai-Ais Hot Springs from B1, take C10 to Ai-Ais. The drive from Hobas to Ai-Ais will take you around 1 hour.
The northern section (Private Nature Reserves)
From Keetmanshoop or Lüderitz take B4 and turn on D463.
By plane
There are several airstrips for private and charter flights into The Fish River Canyon area:
Best time to go
The Fish River Canyon is a great destination to travel to all year round, but those hoping to avoid the rainy season (a mere 10 to 50 mm at most) should go between May and October. Autumn (March to May) is the best (and busiest) time of the year to visit the Fish River Canyon, with temperatures ranging from 26°C to 41°C and the evenings pleasantly cool. Summer (December to February) is also a popular time to go however it is VERY hot, with daily temperatures cruising between 38°C and 41°C. Spring (September to November) is less busy, with daily highs ranging from 31°C to 38°C. The winter months (June to August) are comfortably cool (20-25°C) and rainless, making winter the best time to do the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail.
Main Attractions
The Fish River Trail
This is one of the most popular treks in southern Africa and one of the most strenuous. Only open for 30 hikers per day between May 1st and September 15th, hiking the Fish River Canyon from Hobas to Ai-Ais is the best way to experience the stark and rugged canyon scenery. The traditional route is a self-guided 90km trail (80km if you find the shortcuts!) that can be done in 5 to 7 days. You will have to pack all of your food, sleeping equipment and clothes, but the lug will have been so worth it when you take refreshing dips in the river, sleep under the twinkling milky way and marvel skyward at ancient rock formations.
The Main Viewpoint (Hobas Viewpoint)
Accessible to everyone, this viewpoint is the most photographed, and for good reason! The awe-inspiring views reach down into the canyon below and far beyond. Have a picnic under a shaded table overlooking Hell’s Bend. Day entry permits can be bought at the gate at NAD60 per person, plus NAD10 per vehicle. You will need a high clearance vehicle to get to the viewpoint.
The Hikers’ Viewpoint
This viewpoint is 3 km north of the Main Viewpoint and is at the start of the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail. Scenes from here are panoramic and afford a good sense of the size of the canyon. This is a great spot to watch the sunset!
Sulphur Springs (Palm Springs) Viewpoint
This viewpoint is a 2-hour roundtrip only recommended for trave
llers staying overnight in the area. From the Hobas campsite, you follow the D324 south for 15 km on the bumpy gravel road, driving parallel with the canyon. You can stop off all along here to take some pics! The last viewpoint that can be reached with a 2x4 is Sulphur Springs (Palm Springs). You can rest and have padkos (road trip snacks) at a picnic table and enjoy views of another tight bend along the river.
Journeys Namibia offers a comfortable and scenic slackpacking route for those who want to experience life in the canyon. The 2-day and 3-day hikes include a knowledgeable guide, breakfast, lunch and dinner plus drinks while hiking. A minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 10 guests per group are allowed. For the 2-day hike, you will start at the Fish River Lodge and spend the first night at Camp Eternity and the second at Camp Edge. Those opting for the 3-day hike will spend the first night at Fish River Lodge, the second night at Camp Eternity and the third night at Camp Edge. You will be sleeping in unique, unimposing stone gabion shelters that overlook the mesmerising, colour-shifting canyon below.
Day hikes
From Fish River Lodge you can do guided day-hikes between April and September into the canyon below and along the rim (also mountain biking, sundowners and game drives!). Experience the pools, wildlife, sunsets and geology without having to camp.
To book the Rim to River Hiking Trail or the Canyon Day Hike, reach out to Viatu at helpme@viatu.com.
Ai-Ais Natural Hot Springs
Behold, a green oasis offering reprieve from the scorching desert sun, featuring palm trees and thermal baths! Appearing like a mirage, Ai-Ais hot springs offers intrepid desert travellers the chance to dust off and relax, pool- and bath side. These sulphur springs can be found at the end of the Fish River trail at Ai-Ais resort. The resort also offers day hikes into the canyon.
In the area
Stop off at Canyon Roadhouse
In the hot Namib sun, nothing beats a cold beer at this famous, quirky institution, 16 km North of Hobas. With the rusting, vintage cars under the photogenic quiver trees, you will be spoilt with photo ops (and there’s Wi-Fi too!).
Kayaking on the orange river
A watersport enthusiasts dream, the Orange River is situated 110 km south of Ai-Ais at Namibia’s border with South Africa. There are numerous kayaking companies along the river that offer day trips or multi-day adventures along the river. The water is warm, the rapids are exhilarating and the scenery through the gorge is magnificent. Kayaking can be organised with Felix Unite or Amanzi trails.
Visit the Quiver tree forest, Giant’s Playground and Mesosaurus Fossil site near Keetmanshoop
150 km North of Hobas Rest Camp, en route back to Windhoek, you will pass through the desert town, Keetmanshoop. Here you can visit a national monument of Namibia – the Quivertree Forest, where 250 specimens of Aloidendron dichotomum (Quivertrees) sit amongst the desert boulders. The San people used to use the branches of these upside-down looking trees as quivers, the tallest of which are up to 300 years old! From June to July, bright yellow flowers bloom and attract a large variety of insects, birds and mammals.
Close to the forest is Giants Playground, a peculiar geological formation. The large piles of haphazardly placed dolerite rocks look as if they are the abandoned toy blocks of giants! At the nearby Mesosaurus Fossil site, you can marvel at the well-preserved fossils of an early aquatic relative of reptiles – Mesosaurus. These are convincing evidence for continental drift as the same fossils in the same rock type are found here and in South America.
Wildlife
You might be amazed to hear that there is in fact life in and around the desolate Fish River Canyon! The Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park supports a variety of wildlife, including the classic Namibian representatives: Ostrich, oryx and zebra. Look out for desert-dwelling dassies, jackals, bat-eared foxes, klipspringers, vervet monkeys and the endemic Nama padloper tortoise. The park falls within the Succulent Karoo Biome and features many unique and ancient plant species, including the rare and bizarre-looking ‘halfmens’ (half-humans) which can reach up to 5 m tall, and large, soft-barked aloes called Quiver trees. Keep an eye and ear out for the beautiful African fish eagle and its haunting call!
How to include the Fish River Canyon in your Namibian adventure
Being in the southernmost point of Namibia, the Fish River Canyon is quite far removed from other Namibian sights, however, it is well worth the extra effort. After landing in Windhoek at Hosea Kutako International Airport, rent a vehicle (preferably a 4x4) and drive south towards Keetmanshoop, making sure to take in the beautiful moonscape scenery and wildlife that straddles the road. This 500 km journey will take you around 5 hours, after which you can rest up in Keetmanshoop before leaving for the Fish River Canyon. From Keetmanshoop, it is a short 150 km, 2-hour drive to Hobas and the canyon. You can then return to Windhoek or drive to the coastal town Lüderitz, then to Sossusvlei and finally end up back in Windhoek.
Similarly, if you travelled to Sossusvlei first, you can drive south to Lüderitz and then inland to Keetmanshoop, and finally to the Fish River Canyon. From here you can travel north to Windhoek.
Viatu offers a sensational trip, the Extended Self-Drive Package: Namibia's Wildlife & Wilderness, that incorporates the Fish River Canyon and the best wildlife experiences. This tour allows you to meet the country’s famous desert-adapted animals at Etosha and the Kalahari Desert, and to enjoy the vast open wilderness of the Fish River Canyon and rocky Damaraland.
We can also assist with booking the Fish River Canyon hike as part of a full itinerary, but we can’t facilitate one-day hikes only.
Despite being Namibia’s second most popular attraction, less than 1% of the total number of annual tourists to the Grand Canyon make it to the Fish River Canyon every year. Talk about undiscovered! Here you can have an unadulterated natural experience, in a gobsmackingly dramatic desert landscape, whether you are a hiker or not. This is one drama you should want to participate in, so don’t miss out, get packing!
