See also Encounter Magazine's comprehensive guide on
Hiking in South Africa.
This is a 37 km circular trail, taking 3 days to complete and starting at the restcamp at the Augrabies Falls National Park. A detailed map is available at the office.
Accommodation consists of 2 overnight huts with bunks, mattresses, toilets, braai facilities, firewood and water; (maximum of 12 people per night); general park facilities includes an interpretive centre, a rest camp with fully equipped chalets, shop and restaurant.
Attractions include the Augrabies Falls and gorge, river landscape, arid area flora and wildlife and birdlife along the river.
The trail is open only from 1 April to 30 September. Despite this, days can be very hot in the gorge and a sun-hat and water bottle is vital. Night temperatures in winter can drop below freezing. Beware of snakes. Hikers must report to the camp office before setting out and after completing the trail.
Groups must be of between 2 and 12 persons. Hikers are warned against swimming in the river, which can be dangerous with strong currents.
Undoubtedly the falls themselves are the main attraction of the Augrabies Falls National Park and its walks and trails. For here, set against the dramatically barren landscape west of Kakamas, the tumbling, muddy-brown waters of the Orange River have eroded the solid granite bedrock into a deep ravine, sculpting in the process a remarkable array of rock formations and potholes.
The main falls are 56 m high, but in total the river drops 191 m, placing it among the largest cataract-type waterfalls in the world. The entire gorge is 18 km long, and the roaring of water plunging, whirling and swirling over such a great distance lends credence to the name Augrabies, a corruption of a Bushman phrase meaning 'place of great noise'.
Ramblers with limited time can take the very easy 2,5 km path to view the gorge, Twin Falls and Arrow Point. To reach Moon Rock takes about an hour and to the potholes about 1,5 hours. The Klipspringer Hiking Trail also passes the falls but includes sections of the river gorge downstream as well.
Other rewards are colourful Cape flat rock lizards basking on the sunbaked rocks, in addition to klipspringer, monkeys, baboons, steenbok, and wild cats - or their spoor.
The trail is moderately strenuous. There is a stretch of loose sand and boulders to negotiate on the second day's route which can be tiresome.
In sharp contrast with the arid veld dotted with tree aloes surrounding the river, its banks are wooded with bush willows, olives, karee and sweet thorns. Within both vegetation types, birdlife is plentiful, including fish eagles, kingfishers, buzzards, dikkops, plovers, finches, wagtails, swifts and many bush-dwelling birds.
It is best to plan your hiking times for early morning and later afternoon in order to maximize both comfort and the chances of spotting wildlife. The day's stages allow ample time for enjoying the environment.
