Experience the magnificent Augrabies falls in the Kalahari Desert, and experience wild adventure in one of South Africa’s hidden gems.
In its heyday, the mighty Orange River was famous for giving the world the Hope diamond. These days, its most sparkling attraction is arguably the Augrabies Falls, the centre point of the Augrabies National Park.
Situated 120km from the Northern Cape town of Upington, Augrabies National Park offers a mix of unique natural beauty, true adventure, incredible wildlife, and, of course, panoramas of the wild, thundering waterfall. Channeled through an 18km abyss of the Orange River Gorge, the falls drop 56km providing breathtaking views from multiple vantage points. The unusual terrain, reminiscent of a lunar landscape, offers unforgettable vistas – made even more so by the abundant rainfall which has dramatically increased the volume of water cascading over the stark cliffs.
Choose a game drive in your own vehicle and head out in search of antelope like springbok, kudu, and klipspringer. If you’re lucky, you may even find predators like leopard and African wild cat taking refuge from the heat in the shade of towering camel thorn trees. Keep an eye out for the giraffe, which interestingly has adapted to the heat of the region with a lighter colour pelt than giraffes typically have in other parts of South Africa.
For those wanting something more adventurous, night drives are available, along with the chance to spot elusive nocturnal animals like bat eared fox, free-tailed bat, aardwolf, and small spotted genet.
More adventurous still is the six hour, 96km Wilderness Road 4×4 trail, with a mix of off-road elements setting you up for a demanding drive, and some serious bragging rights!
For a slightly slower pace, and a chance to be as close to nature as possible, there are two hiking trails; the three-day Klipspringer trail is definitely the more challenging of the two, requiring hikers to live off grid and take their own water for the duration! The park also allows the use of mountain bikes.
Accommodation options in Augrabies National Park include a choice of caravan and camping sites, as well as chalets and family cottages.
- Spectacular views of one of South Africa’s most impressive natural wonders, the Augrabies Falls
- See wildlife against a backdrop of unique plants and landscapes
- A truly immersive experience with hiking, mountain biking and 4x4 trails
- The Augrabies flat lizard can only be found within a 100km radius of the falls
- The name Augrabies is taken from the Khoi word “Aukoerebis", meaning “Place of Great Noise”
- Be sure to visit Echo Corner
- Get to lookout points at sunrise for spectacular photos
- Always have sunblock and water with you
