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Speak to one of our experts now about this offer
Call us on - 0800 294 9710
Or drop into your local Kuoni store to find out more
Speak to one of our experts now about this offer
Call us on - 0800 294 9728
Or drop into your local Kuoni store to find out more
Discover Fish River Canyon, one of Africa’s finest geological wonders. This epic, snaking chasm is second in size only to the USA’s Grand Canyon and twists like a giant, 160km-long ribbon through the orange-red rock of southern Namibia. In places, it looms 27 kilometres wide and reaches a depth of 550 metres. While science tells us that Fish River Canyon was formed over 500 million years of metamorphose and tectonic movement, local Nama legend instead insists it was birthed by a giant snake writhing in its death throes, hunted by their warriors.
Today, hikers are drawn here to complete the challenging five-day, 85-km trail through the canyon’s Mars-like landscape. If you don’t fancy the walk, there are a series of viewpoints including Hell’s Corner, which shows off the whiplash curve of Fish River Canyon to perfection. In wet season, the Fish River gushes through the canyon, eventually drying into a series of glassy, catfish-filled pools. Game such as shy kudus and rock hyraxes are drawn to this life-giving water source, as well as soaring black eagles and wild horses left behind by colonial German forces.
To visit Fish River Canyon during your Namibia adventure, ask our travel gurus to help you plan the perfect self-drive itinerary.
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Hiking in Fish River Canyon
Adventurous travellers will love hiking down into the depths of Fish River Canyon. You'll be guided on a full-day trek through the aptly-named Jelly Legs Gorge, a trail that takes you past epic viewpoints. It’s a challenging hike that involves traversing rock-strewn slopes and scrambling over boulders, but the reward is getting to experience the world’s second-largest canyon. When you hike, you can see the changing layers of sediment up close, the different rock colours and elephant skin weathering.
Along the way, there’s a chance of spotting some of Fish River Canyon’s endemic wildlife, including oryx, kudu and springbok, Hartman’s mountain zebra and the shy rock hyrax. You’ll also notice birds swooping above, including black eagles. The main focus on the walk, though, is the views and the geology. You'll also learn about the flora, which includes over 100 types of succulents and quiver trees which can be up to 300 years old.
Eventually, you will reach the rock pools at the bottom, where you can cool off with a swim in the heart of the canyon. Enjoy a picnic lunch before making the long climb back up to the lodge – it’s a strenuous eight-to-ten-hour journey all together. If you don’t want to tackle the climb, there are flat canyon rim walks you can take instead from the lodge. Walk them in the morning and late afternoon when the light and shadows play across the rocks, it’s spectacular.
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