Fish River Canyon, Aus & Luderitz

Situated in the far South of Namibia, the Fish River Canyon takes its name from the river which winds its way through the 160-kilometre length. At up to 27 kilometres wide and 500 metres deep, the canyon is the largest in Africa, and second only to the Grand Canyon worldwide. However, unlike the Grand Canyon, you’ll be able to explore in near solitude, visiting the sunset viewpoints near Hobas (there is now a fantastic viewpoint offering near panoramic views), or taking a day trip down to explore the riverbed at Ai-Aiba – home to thermal springs, and the end point of the multi-day hike through the Canyon.

Highly recommended are the guided drives available from lodges in the area, offering an in-depth introduction to the geography and environment of the area. Look out for iconic quiver trees and klipspringers perching on the rocky outcrops as you descend through the canyon. The Canyon is inside the National Park and there are strict timings for entering and exiting.

Luderitz is a lovely seaside town, just under an hour to the west of Aus and well worth visiting if you are in the area. This is a fascinating old German town, very relaxed with interesting colourful architecture and quite a welcomed contrast to the desert like inland areas. Activities available are varied with highlights including visiting the nearby and fascinating Kolmanskop ghost town as well as boat trips to see some of the marine life of the area.

Aus is north of the Fish River canyon and makes for a perfect stop on the way to Sossusvlei, around one hour from Luderitz. Aus is famous for its wild horses that roam freely and can often be seen in the area. No one knows exactly where they came from although it is widely accepted they are descendants of horses that the German colonialists brought to the country in the past. The horses are often seen at the Garub waterhole where a shady observation post has been erected.

Accommodation options for Fish River Canyon

The accommodation that we feature is just a snapshot of the sort of accommodation that is available and not the only options that we work with, the portfolio of properties that we work with in Africa is one of the largest of any agent, but we don’t feature all of these simply because there would be too many!

Suggested Itineraries featuring this area

Southern Highlights

14 Days from £2675 per person including international flights