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Fish River
Dirt road in the southeast of Namibia (Route C12)
Shore of the fish river

On the way from Fish River Canyon Park to Duwisib Castle we stop shortly after Seeheim for ten minutes next to the riverbed of the Fish River. It´s dried up except for few puddles. No wonder, because some water is catched at the Hardap Dam for irrigation. We have got the choice: either up to the bridge, to have an overview over the valley, or down to the river to look if there's something going on.

dried out riverbed of the Fish River
adried out riverbed of the Fish River

We decide against the bridge and walk over a sand hillside and past some bushes into the stony riverbed. Despite of some grasses and a lonesome ibis there isn't anything to see. However, the people of our group who went to the bridge are screaming all of a sudden: Baboons! But where? Somewhere at the hillside. Scared by the shouting the shy animals escape, before we can have a look at them. What a pity!

only a few wet spots have escaped the winter

Besides the delusive side trip to the margin of the canyon it is possible to go on walking-tours as soon as the river is completely dry. Mostly that's the time between May and the end of August. The necessary permit for that you get from the ranger. However, you have to apply for that before at the nature conservation administration in Windhoek.
Unfortunately you have no chance to be allowed to enter the canyon, because only groups of at least three to forty people get the permission for the walking-tour. Moreover, you have to show a medical attestation concerning your fitness.
The descent into the canyon is near the main viewpoint where we have started our walk. You have to walk 45 minutes to get down to the “Sulphur Springs”. The ascent takes about twice as long.
If you want to walk through the Fish River Canyon down to its orifice into the Oranje (near Ai Ais), you have to allow three to five days.

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© Lars Freudenthal
[Namibia] [first impressions] [Anib Lodge] [Kalahari] [Quiver Tree Forest] [Keetmanshoop] [Fish River Canyon] [Canyon Lodge] [Fish River] [Helmeringhausen] [Duwisib Castle] [Hammerstein Rest.] [Sossusvlei] [Namib Desert Lodge] [Namib-Naukluft] [Swakopmund] [Cape Cross] [Twyfelfontein] [Gowati Lodge] [Khorixas] [Etosha 1] [Etosha Gateway] [Etosha 2] [Mokuti Lodge] [Etosha 3] [Otjikoto Lake] [Hoba Meteorite] [Epako Lodge] [Waterberg] [Windhoek I] [Farewell] [airport] [Itinerary & Map] [FAQ] [Clime and links]