The Orange River, South Africa’s biggest and longest (running 2,200km from its source in Lesotho to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean) is, for the most part, a lazy, slow-flowing waterway. That changes however when it is forced through a narrow granitic channel in the arid Northern Cape, plunges 56m over the impressive Augrabies Falls and continues through a dramatic gorge for another 18km before again returning to its more placid ways.
After years of political wrangling, a small 5,400 hectare area around the Falls was proclaimed the Augrabies Falls National Park in August 1966. Subsequently surrounding areas have been incorporated, and today the Park covers over 51,000 hectares.
Visitors can enjoy the best views of the Falls from several vantage points connected by easily negotiated boardwalks.
Consider that these photos taken during our visit in June 2018 saw the river flowing at a below average 38 cubic meters per second, and then imagine what it must look like when a flood of approximately 7,800 cumec, as happened in 1988, thunders down the Falls, to understand exactly why the Khoi named this place “Aukoerebis“, meaning “the place of great noise“!
Although the Falls is a worthy focal point of the National Park, there’s still lots more to see further afield when exploring this arid rocky desert landscape (the Park receives only about 120mm of rain annually). Places like Oranjekom, Ararat, Echo Corner and the Moon Rock are well worth the visit for spectacular views and fascinating geology. Quiver Trees and Namaqua Porkbush, both of which we’ll feature in more detail soon, are conspicuous plants and brilliantly adapted to life in this harsh environment. Rocky hills and arid plains where animals and birds abound add to the attraction.
Among the fauna finding protection in the Augrabies Falls National Park counts 49 species of mammal, 181 recorded bird species, around 50 species of reptile, 6 kinds of frog and 12 species of indigenous fish.
Guests can be accommodated overnight in the rest camp’s chalets or the very neat camping area, all within easy walking distance from the Falls (illuminated until 10pm each evening). At the camp there’s four swimming pools (including one for day visitors), a shop, restaurant, fuel station and a little bird-watching hide. The Oranjekom Gorge Cottage is located about 10km from the main camp, and offers privacy and magnificent views over the ravine and river. Provision is also made for day visitors with picnic sites in the camp and along the game viewing loop. Visitors are welcome to explore the Park’s roads in their own vehicle (some roads are only accessible to 4×4 vehicles) or on mountain bikes, and there’s several hiking trails to choose from ranging in length from 2 to 33km (the latter being the Klipspringer Trail which includes two overnight stops). Guided drives (both day and night) in open vehicles can be booked at reception.
The Augrabies Falls National Park is in one of the remotest corners of South Africa’s Northern Cape Province; roughly 930km from Pretoria and 870km from Cape Town. The nearest major airport with daily flights is at Upington, about 125km away. We enjoyed a wonderful two-night visit to Augrabies at the end of June 2018, during which all these photos were taken.
Location of Augrabies Falls National Park
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Dankie… ek het nou lekker gekuier!
Mag ek vra, asb, word die water vloei gereguleer der die damme of loop die valle ooit droog?
BTW – I’ve written a short story about diamond diving beneat the falls… 😉
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Altyd lekker as jy kom inloer, AJ.
In opgetekende geskiedenis van oor die 200 jaar het die waterval net een keer opgedroog. Deesdae word die vloei in die droë seisoen op tussen 40 en 60kumek gehou deur water uit die Vanderkloof Dam te laat – besproeiingsboerdery is groot besigheid langs die Oranje.
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Incredible what you saw and photographed in just two days. And people think that deserts are desolate!! Lovely array of gorgeous photos. (That baby dassie is truly cute.) It is a long way to travel to get there, but definitely worth the trip.
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Absolutely worth every cent of petrol and second of time spent on getting there, Carol – the rewards that await you on arrival is just so spectacular!
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You are inspiring me to plan another visit 🙂
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We can assure you that you will not be disappointed if you do!
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Do you research these places before you go? How many hours does it take to edit your pictures and write the articles/
I am always amazed at how many kinds of animals, reptiles and birds there are.
One more question: You show a “ground squirrel” and it looks much like the “ground hog” from the Texas plains. Are they related?
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Indeed Beth, we love reading up on the places we’re visiting long in advance – even if it is places we’ve been to many times before. The planning of the trip should be just as much fun as the trip itself! And it really builds the anticipation!
I don’t spend much time editing on each picture – it is mostly just resizing and then adding our webaddress and the borders. But added together it does take quite a bit of time to get all the images ready, and then even more to get the content written up (it is probably obvious that English isn’t my mother tongue). All in all this post took about 8 hours to put together over several days.
The ground hogs (and prairie dogs) you are familiar with are indeed a kind of ground squirrel as well; although in a different genus to ours they’re both on the same branch of the family so quite closely related.
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Your ‘summaries’ of the trips are the best part. The fact that you care about your followers is good too. It is no wonder that you have won several awards.
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Thank you so very much for the kind words, Beth!
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Thank you, when I see these beautiful photographs, a landscape and extraordinary animals, I feel on vacation … thousands of miles from home and in a country where I would have liked one day to be able to go
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We’re glad we could introduce you to our Augrabies Falls, and we’ll hold thumbs with you that you will be able to visit our country one day soon!
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Absolutely beautiful shots. We worked on a Habitat house in Lesotho, but we didn’t get near the falls. Our loss. This is a stunning place.
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Definitely a must see then when you visit our country again!
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Such delicate flowers in that rugged landscape. Absolutely breathtaking views!
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An astounding contrast, isn’t it Lois!?
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Dis darem pragtig daar, Dries en jy het fantastiese foto’s geneem. Ek hou veral van jou sonsopkoms met die kokerboom…pragtig!
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Baie dankie, Dina! Doen julle af-en-toe by Augrabies aan wanneer julle Namibie of die Kalahari besoek?
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Ons was jare laas daar, Dries. Dis nogal uit die pad uit, maar ek dink tog ons moet weer ‘n draai gaan maak. Jou foto’s maak my lus!
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Jy sal nie spyt wees nie, Dina!
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Wow, that area just teems with life!
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And unexpectedly so, as it is such a terribly dry part of our country!
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It is a beautiful place to visit.
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Most certainly, Anne!
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Amazing and very beautiful pictures!😊 You must have a very pleasant time.
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We absolutely did, John – next time we will certainly stay at Augrabies for longer (just a pity that it is so far from our home!)
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