Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail hiking guide: route map, stages & where to stay

The Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail is Africa's best-known canyon hike and one of its toughest. It follows the floor of the Fish River Canyon in southern Namibia, inside the ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, from Hikers' Viewpoint near Hobas to the hot-spring resort of Ai-Ais. The official distance is 85 to 90 km along the river; most hikers cut off the big bends on well-used shortcuts and walk about 70 to 75 km. It takes 4 to 5 days. There is no path for long stretches, no hut, no toilet, no shop and no phone signal: you carry everything, sleep on the sand and drink from the river.

The route

The hike starts with the steepest part: a 2 km descent of about 400 m from Hikers' Viewpoint, with chains on the top section, to the river. The first 15 km are the hardest walking, over boulder fields and deep sand between high walls. Palm Springs (Sulphur Springs), a hot spring at about km 16, is the first big landmark. Below it the ground gets firmer and the canyon wider: you pass Table Mountain near the 30 km sign, Bushy Corner and the Three Sisters, and reach the painted 50 km sign below Kooigoedhoogte. From here the classic shortcuts cut across the necks of the meanders: over Kooigoedhoogte, then over Vasbyt Nek past the grave of Lieutenant Thilo von Trotha, a German officer killed in 1905, with Four Finger Rock in view. The last day and a half crosses the Causeway, Bandage Pass and Fool's Gold Corner before long stretches of soft sand lead to Ai-Ais.

This guide follows the route mapped on OpenStreetMap, including the usual shortcuts, and splits it into 5 stages of about 13.8 km. The stage ends are the well-known sandbank camps at Palm Springs, Table Mountain, the Three Sisters and Fool's Gold Corner. They are not official campsites: you can camp anywhere on the sand, so shorten or stretch a day to suit water, heat and your group. The kilometre figures on the river signs are river distances and are longer than what you walk.

When to go

The trail is open only from 1 May to 15 September. Outside the season the canyon floor reaches 45 °C or more and summer rains bring floods. In season, afternoons in the sun are often above 30 °C and can reach 40 °C, while nights can drop below 5 °C in June and July. May and September are usually warmer than midwinter; June to August are cooler but have the shortest days.

The opening depends on the water level. In 2025 NWR postponed the start before opening on 1 May. In 2026 heavy rain filled the Naute and Neckartal dams: the season opened on 15 May, closed on 21 June when dam water was released and 96 hikers had to be flown or walked out, and reopened on 17 July. On 16 October 2026 the trail is closed until the 2027 season. Always check the NWR news page before you travel.

How hard is it?

This is a hard, remote hike for fit and experienced hikers. Every day involves soft sand, loose rock, boulder hopping and river crossings, with a full pack. Plan on 2 to 3 km per hour, less in the first section. Heat and dehydration are the main dangers. In 2025 a 67-year-old hiker died of exhaustion about 6 km from Ai-Ais after falling behind his group, and 13 dehydrated hikers were evacuated by police helicopter. Start at first light, rest in the shade at midday, and never leave a slow or sick hiker alone.

Permits and booking

You need a hiking permit from Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), booked months ahead because places are limited. In 2026 the online booking system was down and NWR took requests by email at reservations@nwr.com.na. The hiking fee is N$540 per person, and groups must have at least 3 and at most 30 people. On top of this you pay the park entry fee for each day; from 1 April 2026 it is N$280 per foreign adult per day (N$180 for SADC citizens, N$60 for Namibians).

Every hiker needs a medical certificate of fitness signed by a doctor (NWR sends the form; hikers report it must be recent, within about 40 days) and a signed indemnity. You show them at the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) office at Hobas before you start, and you sign out at Ai-Ais. Children under 12 are not allowed.

Getting there and away

Hobas is about 650 km by road from Windhoek and Ai-Ais about 710 km; from Cape Town it is a long day's drive via the Vioolsdrif–Noordoewer border. The last sections are gravel, and there is no public transport. Many hikers leave their car at Ai-Ais, take the NWR shuttle to Hobas (N$500 per person in 2026–27), sleep at Hobas, and get a lift to Hikers' Viewpoint, 10–13 km away, for an early start. Canyon Lodge (Gondwana Collection) also runs private transfers to Hikers' Point and Ai-Ais.

Where to sleep

Before the hike, stay at the NWR Hobas Lodge and campsite or at one of the Gondwana lodges east of the canyon (Canyon Village, Canyon Lodge, Canyon Roadhouse). In the canyon you camp on the sandbanks; there are no facilities. At the end, the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Spa has rooms, chalets, a big campsite and thermal pools.

Money and phone signal

Namibia uses the Namibian dollar (N$); the South African rand is accepted at par. Card machines at Hobas can fail, so carry cash for park fees. There is no mobile signal in the canyon. Carry a satellite phone or a satellite messenger and save the MEFT Hobas, NWR Hobas and NWR Ai-Ais numbers.

What to pack

• A tent or bivvy bag, a sleeping bag rated to about 0 °C and a mat
• A gas or liquid-fuel stove: fires are not allowed
• Water treatment (filter or tablets) and capacity for at least 3–4 litres
• Food for 5 days, plus a spare day
• Sun hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen and long, light clothes
• Sturdy boots or trail shoes, and sandals for river crossings
• A full first aid kit with blister care and oral rehydration salts
• A trowel, toilet paper and bags to carry out all rubbish

Safety

• Hike in a group of at least three: if someone is hurt, one stays and one goes for help.
• Water is only in the river and pools, and late in the season some pools are stagnant. If you walk more than 8 km without seeing water, you are lost: turn back.
• Do not cross deep standing water, and help each other on slippery crossings.
• Do not climb out of the canyon. NWR lists emergency exits at Hikers' Point, Sulphur Springs, the Low Water Bridge and Four Fingers, but most rescues are by helicopter and can take a long time. Make sure your insurance covers air evacuation.