The Fish River Canyon

Pics of a trip to the Fish River Canyon two weekends ago - it's just up the road from my present location, about 200 kms:


The deepest part of the Fish River Canyon is situated within the Ai-Ais/Richterveld Transfrontier National Park and the northern Entrance Gate is at Hobas.

Hobas is like an oasis in the desolate landscape and also a convenient Camp site 10km from the Main Canyon Vantage Point.

The camp looks pleasant enough. It's neat and tidy, the sites are shady and there's a small swimming pool and kiosk.


The Main Vantage Point overlooking the Canyon - a new structure, it wasn't here at my last visit a few years ago.


Hell's Bend - The view from the Vantage Point.

The Fish River Canyon is reputedly the second largest in the World after the USA's Grand Canyon. It is one of Namibia's main tourist destinations.


Two kilometres north of the vantage point, a group of hikers prepares to set out on the tough, 5-Day Fish River Canyon Hike.

There are no facilities along the way; hikers sleep under the stars and must carry their own supplies. Water is normally available in the Fish River but must be boiled or cleaned with purification tablets.


The trail is 85 kilometres long and, once in the canyon, there is no way out except for one or two emergency exit points. Earlier this year, a group of hikers had to be evacuated when the Fish River came down in flood.

Hikers must present a medical certificate of fitness and complete an indemnity form prior to commencing the trail.

A group of hikers descends into the canyon.

Many people claim that this 2-3 hour descent is the toughest part of the whole trail.

I'd love to walk the Fish River Canyon but I fear that this jarring, steep decline would mess my knees up completely.


The view from another point a few kilometres south of the main vantage point.

In total, the Canyon is 160 km long, up to 27 km wide and in places almost 550 metres deep.


Rain had fallen in this arid area and patches of tiny red succulents, combined with the natural colour of the rock, gave the ground a pinkish hue.


To commemorate their visit - in a 'Kilroy Was Here' kind of way - many people build little cairns. There are probably a few hundred on the edge of the canyon.

Above is one of the more creative examples.


A last look at the canyon from another vantage point - photographs can't really capture the magnificence of the scene - you'll have to come check it out yourselves - April to September are the best times if you're planning a trip ... :)

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Quiver Trees And Dolerite Dykes

A few pics of Aloe dichotoma trees in Dolerite dykes taken during my last stopover at Garas Park.

Related Posts:

Quiver Trees - Aloe dichotoma

Dolerite Dykes

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Dolerite Dykes

OneStonedCrow PicsAs opposed to basalt, which emerges as lava on the earth's surface, the occurrence of dolerite is connected to magmatic dykes in which the melts solidify below the surface and are only exposed by weathering processes.

Dolerites mostly occur as single dykes. If however, they crosscut the surrounding rocks in large numbers they are called dolerite swarms.

This dolerite swarm is part of the so-called 'Giant's Playground' east of
Keetmanshoop in southern Namibia. It penetrated into the upper parts of the earth's surface about 180 million years ago and it's formation is associated with the initial break up of the Gondwana Continent.Text source: Namibia Fascination of Geology - Nicole Grunert

The strange looking trees in the pics are Quiver trees(Aloe dichotoma).
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Magic Rock

OneStonedCrow Pic
This is one of my favorite rocks - I found it near the Orange River in southern Namibia - and I keep it locked in a showcase along with my crystal collection. It's a bit smaller than a tennis ball, naturally shiny and the double white band runs right around it. When you hold it, it just feels "right' in your hand - if you know what I mean ...

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Erotic Rocks Rock

OneStonedCrow Pic
EROTIC ROCKS
I don't remember taking this pic, I only noticed it when I downloaded from my camera, ... snapping it must have been a subliminal reaction. Is it only me? Does it look like these rocks have been ... oh, never mind ... :)

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