Distinguished by its barren environment and vast desert landscape, the Fish River Canyon in Namibia is the second largest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Its breathtaking immensity makes it a must-see for anyone planning a trip to southern Namibia. Often overshadowed by more famous landmarks, the Fish River Canyon is a true highlight and by far one of Namibia's best kept secrets.

What makes this canyon so special is the overwhelming silence and solitude. Its mesmerising beauty lies in the vastness of this arid landscape, stretching endlessly in earthy tones with barely a sign of civilisation. Even the power lines and telephone or mobile phone poles are around but blend perfectly into the distance, barely noticeable. Rest assured, for emergencies, you will often have cellular coverage in the absolute middle of nowhere.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. For further info, please see our Disclosure

Fish River Canyon Facts

• The Fish River Canyon is approximately 161 km long, up to 27 km wide and nearly 550 metres deep.
• With 160 km in length, the Fish river canyon is considered the second longest canyon in the world, after the world famous Grand Canyon. While definitions vary and some canyons also claim the title, there's no doubt that the Fish River Canyon is one of the largest and most impressive natural formations on Earth.
• Fish River Canyon vs Grand Canyon: Visitors often compare the two canyons, but there’s one major difference: the crowds. While the Grand Canyon receives millions of tourists every year, the Fish River Canyon in Namibia remains relatively untouched, offering a much quieter and more remote experience.
• Formation of the Fish River Canyon: The formation of the canyon began roughly 1.8 billion years ago, making it one of the oldest canyons in the world. Due to movements in the earth’s crust the formations of fractures started forming the canyon, where later the Fish River and water erosion meandered through these fractures forming the actual Fish River Canyon.
• Geological layers: You can literally see the story of Earth’s formation in the rock strata, as some layers are more than 115 billion years old
• |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park: The Fish River Canyon lies within this unique cross-border conservation area, jointly managed by Namibia and South Africa. 

Where is the Fish River Canyon located?

The Fish River Canyon is located in the southern part of Namibia, close to the border with South Africa. Did you know that Southern Namibia has many highlights to visit and is absolutely worth the detour? 

Due to its remote location in the southern tip of the country, the Fish River Canyon is not the biggest tourist hub. Going there means a detour in an already full itinerary and is often removed from the to-visit list. Most tourists that do travel there are mostly passing through on their way to or out of Cape Town. However, the Fish River Canyon does receive a certain amount of visitors every year and there is a good reason for it.

The route to the Fish river canyon is one of the most desolate, yet highly impressive journeys in Namibia. No matter which direction you are coming from, when driving towards the canyon means being served a cocktail of gravel roads with a healthy pinch of dust. Fortunately, Namibia’s gravel roads are among the best in Africa, especially in the south, where traffic is minimal and road conditions are surprisingly good. Most of these roads are easily passable with any 2x4 vehicle, so you don't necessarily need a 4x4 to get there.

How to get to there

The drive to the Fish River Canyon is peaceful and quiet. As you make your way, take your time to stop along the road to enjoy the area. The first thing you’ll notice is the silence. In a world filled with constant noise, it’s rare to experience this, no buzzing technical devices, no planes overhead, hardly any cars and not even birds singing. The blowing of the wind is the only sound that one may hear. Furthermore, take some time to look around, as far as the eye can see there is little to nothing, only beautiful desert landscapes.

Every time I drive through the area I take some time to stop, get out of the vehicle and listen to the sound of silence. And every time it amazes me how much I enjoy it. It is a wonderful feeling.

When approaching the canyon the first thing one can see is a big green water container with the name ‘Hobas' written on it. This is the closest campsite to the canyon and is operated by NWR (Namibian Wildlife Resorts). The entrance fee for the park is to be paid here. Before leaving for the last 10 km (6.2 miles) of gravel road to the viewpoint of the canyon, one can use the toilets (the ones at the canyon are more often closed than open) or buy a cold drink or souvenir in the little store.

Best time to visit the Fish River Canyon

At times, you will have the whole place to yourself or sharing it with a handful of other visitors. As most tourists will arrive throughout the day and won’t stay for hours on end, it is mostly pretty empty. It will make it so much nicer to enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine, overlooking the quiet immensity of the place and enjoying this natural wonder hidden deep in the desert.

The nicest time to visit is either during sunrise or sunset, when the canyon is bathed in soft, golden light creating a wonderful sense of beauty.

TIP: When staying in Hobas campsite you are free to come and go whenever you like. So you can have your sunset drink and drive back at your own leisure.

Good to know: When staying outside the park, check with the officials what time the gate will close, which is normally at sunset. However mostly they will let you stay till just after sunset, but agree with them first in order not to get fined for staying late. Just keep in mind that you will still have to drive the 10 km (6.2 miles) back to the gate and the gravel road is often very corrugated.

Where to stay

The Fish River Canyon might feel like it’s in the middle of nowhere, but there are actually a few great places close by to spend the night or even to stay for a couple of nights.

• Hobas is located at the entrance of the Fish River Canyon and offers both campsites and bush chalets. It's part of Namibia Wildlife Resorts and needs to be booked directly with them.
• Canyon Roadhouse: One of my favourite places to stay when visiting the Fish River Canyon. They offer both camping and rooms and is a wonderful place to stay. Do check out their collection of vintage cars and other memorabilia.
  Detailed price info and bookings for camping can be made here, and for the lodge / rooms check here.
• Gondwana Canyon Village and Gondwana Canyon Lodge from the same hotel group and offer both cosy rooms and beautiful views of the surrounding desert landscape.
• Fish River Lodge: It's the only lodge that is located on the edge of the Fish River Canyon offering breathtaking views. It's definitely a unique and most scenic place to stay. The lodge is not located near the entrance by Hobas, but rather at the other side of the canyon. So it's a great place to stay to enjoy the view, but not if you want to stay close to the entrance.

Fish River Canyon activities

Take a hike along the rim of the Fish River Canyon

The visitor’s area of the main viewpoint has recently been renewed. It used to have a cozy thatched roof with some benches to sit and enjoy the sunset. The new visitors area is slightly bigger, with more spaces to sit and a little information area about the canyon and its surroundings. To the right of the main visitors area is a small path that leads to the Hiker’s viewpoint. This 2 km (1.25 miles) hike along the rim provides spectacular views out of different angles over the canyon.

Starting point multiple day Fish River Canyon hike

For the ones with good physical condition, a 85 km hike can be taken starting from the Hiker’s viewpoint and will last for about 4 days. A permit is mandatory and can be organised with NWR in Windhoek. The hiking trail is open only during the winter months from May to September. It is definitely not for sissies. Day hikes are not allowed into the canyon.

Beware as well when walking along the rim, there is hardly any protection or safety barriers (if any). It is very tempting to get nice and exciting photos sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking a barren area. The canyon is 550 metres deep and falling in might mean the end of your journey in Namibia, which would a shame.

Local wildlife

Even if it seems like a desolated desert, nothing can be further from the truth. It is very much a living desert, but most small animals (insects, snakes, spiders, rodents…) rest during the day and will only be active during the cooler hours of the night. However, occasionally bigger wildlife can be spotted next to the road, mainly zebra, gemsbok, springbok and ostriches (No, these desert ostriches cannot be ridden) But these ones can.

Standing at the edge of the canyon it feels like how it would be to stand on the surface of the moon. Or even, sometimes I get the feeling that I am part of a the new Star Wars movie and any time a space ship can materialise out of the depths of the canyon.

It is a hidden gem in the desert that should be part of anyone’s trip when visiting Namibia. Not only the canyon itself, but also the wonderful and magical surrounding area.

What is the most beautiful canyon you have ever visited?