Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail

The Fish River Canyon is one of the largest canyons in Africa, and the trail follows the river along its floor from the rim near Hobas to the hot springs at Ai-Ais. There is no marked path: hikers pick their own way over sand, river stones and boulder fields, cross the river again and again, and sleep on open sandbanks without huts. Shortcuts over the necks of the big bends save distance but add climbs.

Because of the summer heat and the risk of flash floods it is open only in the cooler months, and most groups take four to five days.