The Grand Canyon in the United States is the largest canyon in the world, followed by the Fish River Canyon. The Canyon is a section of Ais-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, which is managed by the state. The Hobas Rest Camp is where the Park’s entrance is located, 10 kilometers from the popular viewpoint Hell’s Bend.
Visitors must register here. It is crucial to be aware that the Canyon trek is closed during the summer owing to the heat. Depending on fitness, the Fish River Hiking Trail can be done in 4 to 5 days between the months of April and September. It is 85 kilometers long, and only hikers who are following the trail are permitted to descend into the Canyon. It is not permitted for day tourists to climb into the Canyon.
The Fish River is the longest river in Namibia at 800 kilometers. The eastern Naukluft Mountains are where it originates. The Hardap Dam, the largest water reservoir in the nation with a radius of 30 km and a surface area of 28 km2, is where the river enters after traveling nearly 200 km.
The Fish River does not always carry water after being retained; only during the wet season does the river occasionally become a torrent. Different animals drink water from sporadic ponds during the dry season. The lower stream of the Fish River, at Seeheim, is where the Fish River Canyon begins. The Canyon is up to 550m deep, 161 km long, and 27 km wide. At Ai Ais, when the Fish River Canyon comes to an end, the river empties into the Orange River, which forms the South African border.
Baboons, leopards, zebras, and kudus live there. African fish eagles and black Verreaux’s eagles soar overhead. A huge type of aloe plant, called the quiver tree, grows in the area.
The harsh climate frequently contributes to enduring effects. It can get very cold at night in the winter and very scorching throughout the summer. Additionally, the area is one of the driest in the nation, marked by severe droughts and low air humidity. 50 to 150 mm of rainfall every year on average.
The two semi-desert vegetation zones known as Nama Karoo and Succulent are predominant. Additionally, a portion of the area extends into the Namib Desert. There are numerous flora in the area that have adapted to the tough environment. The attractive quiver trees, euphorbias, and aloes are the most well-known.
Numerous animals, including the giraffe, mountain zebra, oryx, kudu, springbok, ostrich, leopard, and the intriguing Namib feral horses, have also been able to adapt to the harsh conditions of this area.
