Fish River Canyon and Tsau Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park, part 2

 

 

Fish River Lodge pool,
Namibia, 2022.

After two nights in the Kalahari, we continue southwest towards one of Namibia's greatest natural wonders—Fish River Canyon.

For the next two nights we will stay at Fish River Canyon Lodge, which enjoys an extraordinary location right on the edge of the world's second-largest canyon. Few hotels can honestly claim to offer a true room with a view, but this is certainly one of them. Waking up to the vast canyon stretching endlessly across the landscape is an unforgettable experience.

The highlight of our stay will be the lodge's seven-hour Canyon Drive, descending from the rim to the canyon floor before climbing back to the top. We were fortunate enough to experience this excursion on a previous visit, and it remains one of the most memorable activities we have done anywhere in Namibia. We are therefore particularly excited to share it with my brother and sister-in-law.

For those preferring a more relaxed pace, the area also offers excellent walking trails along the canyon rim, while the swimming pool provides one of the finest views imaginable—even if the water is rather chilly during the Namibian winter!

Leaving Fish River Canyon behind, we follow the beautiful Arimas River Road (D463), a route we have driven once before and one that remains among our absolute favourites in Namibia. In our opinion, it rivals even the famous D707, which we will encounter later on this journey. The road winds through magnificent desert scenery with very little traffic, making the drive itself one of the day's highlights.

Klein Aus Vista, Eagels Nest cabin,
Namibia, 2022.

Our destination is Klein Aus Vista, where we have booked the unique self-catering stone cottage known as The Boulder for three nights. Built around an enormous granite boulder, the cottage blends beautifully into the surrounding landscape and offers complete peace and privacy on the edge of the former Sperrgebiet.

For more than a century, this vast area was closed to the public because of its rich diamond deposits. Today it forms Tsau Khaeb National Park, protecting one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots, famous for its remarkable succulent flora and pristine desert ecosystems.

During our stay, we plan to explore several of the well-marked walking trails around Klein Aus Vista before making a day trip to the historic coastal town of Lüderitz and the haunting ghost town of Kolmanskop, where drifting desert sand slowly continues to reclaim the abandoned diamond-mining settlement. You can read about our previous visit in an earlier blog post (Kolmanskop 2022).