Fish River Canyon - July 18, 2005

Today we spent a few hours at the top of the Fish River Canyon in southern Namibia. Most books will tell you this is the second largest canyon after the grand caynon of the USA, but in fact, it is much lower on the list. Nonetheless, it is a very impressive canyon! The bottom lies 500m below us and we can see some hikers doing the 80km trek that joins Hobas in the north to Ais-Ais at the south end of the canyon. At this time of the year, water is still flowing; by mid-September, the park will be closed to hikers as the summer's heat makes it unbearable at the bottom of the canyon.

We would have really liked to do the 80km hike through the canyon, but our friends are already waiting for us in Keetmanshoop. It's a shame, but we must push on. Maybe another time.