Fish River Canyon

Located in the extreme southern end of Namibia, Fish River Canyon is yet another place that is uncharacteristic of Africa. At a length of about 100 miles and a depth of up to 1,800 feet, Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon in the world; the Grand Canyon being the largest. According to local Bushmen legend, the canyon was formed by an apparently large snake that was madly slithering to escape hunters that were pursuing it.

Like the Grand Canyon, Fish River Canyon winds its way through the desert. Only a stone’s throw away from the Kalahari and the Namib, the canyon not surprisingly has an attractive remoteness and isolation to it. A combination of that and the stunning beauty of the area is why our group of five set out on a 5-day trek to cover the length of the canyon.

Without the canyon the area would be nothing more than a vast desert wasteland. Add some water and 50 million years of erosion, and you get an extraordinary natural piece of art.

Although the walking was mostly flat, the hike still proved to be challenging. Countless miles were spent walking through the sand and over river rocks. However, the scenery quickly made one forget about the hot slog in the loose sand.

Even though the canyon is a popular tourist destination, once inside the canyon, it is wilderness. There are no established campsites and water is drunk directly from the small meandering river.

The meandering nature of the river meant that there were plenty of river crossings. It was always a welcomed relief to take the boots off and get our feet wet. Fish River itself is nothing like the Colorado, especially this time of year. Fish River is nothing more than slow moving and shallow water peacefully making its way through the canyon. However, there were plenty of swimming opportunities where the canyon narrowed and deepened.

Fish River Canyon is not known for its wildlife viewing. Besides the occasional band of baboons, wild horses were about the only other wildlife we saw on the hike. Not native to the area, the horses are descendants of the horses that were left here during German colonization in the early 1900’s.

As with the rest of the desert in Namibia, the flora always impresses. It is quite surprising that despite the harsh conditions, nature is still able to produce beautiful plants and flowers.

One of the thrills of hiking through the canyon was anticipating what was around the next bend. A new bend in the river came every couple hours and observing the changes in the surrounding canyon walls and the changes in the river itself was always enjoyable.

Within the canyon itself the winds would shift the sands into impressive dunes. Sand may be annoying (if not, frustrating) to trek around in but when left undisturbed, can shift into shapes and lines that can capture your gaze for some time.

Near the end of the hike, the canyon broadens and opens up into grassy meadows, rugged mountains, and views that finally extend beyond the walls of the canyon. There are few things that are as energizing as sitting in a high place and catching the last of the sun’s rays play on the surrounding mountains.