A Guide to Fish River Canyon

Where is the Fish River Canyon?

The Fish River Canyon is located in the far South of Namibia, the canyon is approximately 160 km (100 miles) long and the river it is named after. The Fish River is 650 km long making it Namibia’s longest river, the river flows intermittently, usually flooding in late summer, and when it ceases to flow it becomes a chain of long narrow pools on the sandy rock-strewn floor of the chasm.

Distances to Fish River Canyon

Distances to Ai Ais Fish River Canyon:

Aus: 340km

Luderitz: 465km

Winhoek: 762km

Sesriem: 620km

Noordoewer/Vioosdrif border post: 125km

Ariamsvlei Border post: 260km

Cape Town South Africa: 800km

Johannesburg South Africa:1250km

Upington South Africa: 420km

Springbok South Africa: 242km

Ai Ais to Hobas Camp: 68km

Ai Ais to Hellsbend Viewpoint (via Hobas): 78km

Hobas Camp to Hellsbend Viewpoint: 10km

Where is Everything Located in Fish River Canyon?

At the lower end (south) of the Fish River Canyon is the hot springs resort of Ai Ais, this resort provides an oasis in the desolate rocky wastes with Ai Ais Resort offering rooms and camping.

At the north is where the Fish River Hiking trails starts and this is where Hobas Camp is located.

The Fish River Canyon is part of a Nature Conservation Park, the gate is situated at the rest camp Hobas. From there, you have to drive another 10 kilometers to the actual Canyon which offers a stunning view of “Hell’s Bend”. The Fish River canyon has become a popular hiking destination, hiking however requires good physical health and should only be undertaken during the cooler winter months (between May and September).

Shorter day and half day hikes are offered by several surrounding lodges to various parts of the canyon.

Note: Though the hike down into the Canyon into Hells bend from Hobas is only available as part of 5 Day Hike.

Where to stay around Fish River Canyon?

There is limited accommodation choices of where to stay in Fish River Canyon but each one offers a different experience.

Ai Ais Resort and Spa – The main attraction at Ai Ais Resort is the spa complex and lies at the southern end of the Fish River National Park Conservation Area and marks the end of the Fish River Hiking Trail. The resort has rooms and camping.

Hobas Camp – Located at the start of the hiking trail at the north end of the Fish River Canyon. The camp is made up mostly campsites with a few bush chalets.

Canyon Village – situated in a private reserve only 20 km from the Fish River Canyon Canyon Village offers Cape – Dutch cottages that look like a scene from a western film.

Canyon Lodge – this beautiful lodges offers character and charm, without the glitz. The lodge’s down – to – earth attractiveness and homeliness is perfect for the rugged Fish River Canyon surrounds. Twin and Family Rooms are available.

The Fish River Canyon Hike

The Fish River Hiking Trail is one of the most famous hikes in Southern Africa, the 86 km hike through the Fish River Canyon takes 5 days and can only be undertaken by physically fit people. It takes 5 days with absolutely no facilities, hikers are required to carry everything and find whatever water you can in semi-permanent pools.

You have to book well in advance and be able to produce a doctor’s certificate. It is always a group hike.

A hike through the Canyon can and may only be done in winter months (between April and September). In summer, the temperatures in the gorge are extreme that even in winter, conditions get quite hot. In the past, many accidents and even facilities have occurred, mainly due to heat stroke and heart failure. The rescue facilities are limited, no helicopters are stationed nearby and there is no cell phone reception in the Canyon.

The descent starts at Hiker’s View, about 3 Km north of the Main Viewpoint and takes almost an hour. Only on “emergency exit” leads out of the gorge near “Palm Springs”, to which one usually arrives at on the third day. It is a very steep path and once you get to the top, you literally stand in the desert. The trail ends in Ai-Ais.

The Fish River Canyon, situated along the lower reaches of the Fish River is one of the most impressive natural beauties in the southern part of Namibia. It developed predominantly during the pluvial times – a rainy climatic epoch – many millions of years ago. With a depth of up to 550 meters, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world, before the Grand Canyon in America.

The enormous gorge meanders along a distance of approximately 160 kilometers through the fissured Koubis Massif all the way down to Ai-Ais. The canyon is 161 kilometers long starting near Seeheim and ends at Ai-Ais.

The Fish River is absolutely magnificent and breathtaking in its immensity, the Fish River Canyon probably formed about 500 million years ago. However it was only created by water erosion, but through the collapse of the valley bottom due to movements in the earth’s crust.

The Canyon is part of a nature conservation park, the gate to this park is at Hobas campsite and from here it is a further 10 kilometres to the main viewpoint for the canyon which offers a stunning views. When you arrive at the canyon, as you have no idea it is there.

It drops vertically by half a kilometer, out of a flat arid plateau without any warning. As with most rivers in Namibia the Fish River is generally dry however in the raining season (January to April) the river can become a ranging torrent.

Vegetation in Fish River Canyon

Namibia’s national trees, the Aloe dichotoma or Quiver Tree is most found in the south of the country. There are beautiful examples of these in the Fish River Canyon. The trees can reach an age of about 300 years, and flowering occurs during wintertime from May to July.

Other plants include various species of succulents such as the very poisonous Melkbos. All plants in the canyon are well adopted to the semi-desert environment can survive severe droughts of up to 5 years.

Wildlife in Fish River Canyon

In the Fish River Canyon, you may encounter several species of mammals such as ild horses, Mountain Zebra (Hartman zebra), Kudu, Klipspringer, Leopard, Steenbok, Baboon and Springbok. The most common rodents include mice, rats, dassies, and dassie rats.

Birdlife in the Canyon include Pelicans, Black Eagles, Fish Eagles, Kingfishers, Lovebirds, Wild Ostrich and various species of waterfowl and wading birds, such as Herons.

Reptiles and insects in The Fish River Canyon are in abundance and include Leguan lizards; snakes (such as Cape Cobra, Black Spitting Cobra, Puff adder and Horned adder) as well as Geckos. Various locusts, butterflies and moths are also present. In the natural pools of the Fish River there an abundance of fish such as Barbled catfish and Yellow Fish.

Climate in Fish River Canyon

The Fish River Canyon area has a typical semi-desert climate. During the hot summer months (October – March) temperatures can rise 48°C during the day and cool to about 30°C at night.

Relief from the heat comes in short spells with occasional thunderstorms, the average annual rainfall in the canyon area is 100mm. During the short winters, temperatures can go below zero at night, but quickly pick up during the day to a moderate 20 to 28°C.

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