The only routes that lead to the Fish River Canyon, which is located between the Namib and Kalahari deserts, span enormous stretches of flat, desolate terrain that are only sporadically covered in cacti, quiver trees, and desert vegetation. Despite being a popular tourist destination, the entire area feels enchanted and unexplored because of its physical seclusion.
There are rarely more than two or three cars at any one time at any viewing point, and the only tour busses that make the lengthy trip are the overlander companies a few times a week, so it is highly probable that you will have the amazing vistas to yourself.
Before returning to the rough gravel roads, we would advise a two-night stay, which will provide you enough time to explore the canyon and its surroundings and unwind.
Because it is a desert, summer temperatures can soar to 40°C during the day, and without a fan, evenings can get extremely hot. Although there are thunderstorms and erratic heavy rain during the summer, the average rainfall is only 50 to 100 mm. The winter months of June through August are considerably milder and more comfortable.
Stories from the Bushmen describe how the canyon was constructed, and there is evidence that it has been inhabited for thousands of years, going all the way back to the Early Stone Age.
Across the veld, hunters were pursuing the huge serpent-god Koutein Kooru. The serpent’s body gouged the large rip in the desert floor as he slithered off into the desert in an attempt to elude his pursuers.
Despite how amazing this story is, contemporary scientists think that the canyon was first created more than 500 million years ago as a result of tectonic activity that caused the earth’s crust to split. About 300 million years ago, glacial movement deepened this early canyon, which later served as the Fish River’s natural riverbed.
By the time the Fish River, Namibia’s longest river, reaches the Canyon, its water levels are low because it is now impounded at the Hardap Dam in the north. The river rushes through the Canyon at its peak between March and April, following the rainy season. From April to June, however, it dries up, and by August, only little puddles remain on the ground.