Combining dramatic canyon landscapes, vast desert plains and the mighty Orange River, the challenge of this trail is by no means less than that of the Central Namib Desert and the Damaraland to Skeleton Coast trails. Participants experience real wilderness areas, which are otherwise almost inaccessible, as well as the freedom of riding without restrictions. The Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon on earth and internationally recognised as one of Africa's most magnificent natural features. We start off in and along the upper canyon. After the seemingly endless Nama Karoo scenery the plains will tempt you to canter all the way to the Orange/Gariep River, which forms the southern border of Namibia. Distances covered per day vary between 20 and 55 kilometres.

The Fish River Canyon Trail runs through three private nature reserves - Fish River Canyon Park, Gondwana Canyon Park and Aussenkehr Park - which together cover an area of some 220 000 ha. These parks are part of the Nama Karoo Desert biome, situated on the fringe of the transitional area between Nama Karoo and Succulent Karoo. The valley of the Orange River at Aussenkehr is the most arid part of the Nama Karoo biome. Aussenkehr Park is also home to a small population of feral Namib horses. They are descended from a group of seventeen horses which were relocated during the 1992 drought from the original wild horse population at Garub in the Namib Desert.

Alternatively, if your time is limited, you can also book just part of this trail:
A. Northern Canyon Trail - 8 days, 7 nights, Sunday to Sunday (day 1-7 plus return transfer). 6 days riding, 2 days for transfers and an excursion to the main lookout point at the Fish River Canyon.
B. Southern Plains Trail - 7 days, 6 nights, Saturday to Friday (transfer to Canyon Mountain Camp, join the Fish River Canyon to Orange River Trail for day 8-13). 4 days riding, 2 days for transfers and a visit to the famous Wild Horses of the Namib.

Details: Windhoek - Windhoek: 13 days, 12 nights, Sunday to Friday. 9 days riding, 3 days for transfers, an excursion to the main lookout point at the spectacular Fish River Canyon and an afternoon/sunset drive to the famous Wild Horses of the Namib.

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet us at 8h00 at the Tourist Information kiosk in downtown Windhoek. The kiosk is at the airport bus terminal and taxi rank opposite the Kalahari Sands Hotel. Please let us know about your travel arrangements in advance so that we can contact you in case of delays. The transfer from Windhoek to the northern Fish River Canyon takes about eight hours, including a picnic. In the late afternoon we arrive at Augurabis, an almost forgotten farmstead, well hidden in lush vegetation close to a natural spring in the Gaap River. Augurabis is located in Gondwana Cañon Park, a private nature reserve of some 120.000 ha, dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable tourism. Meet your fellow-riders, hosts, guides and local crew.
Day 2: After breakfast and briefings you go on a ‘trial ride’ to get acquainted with the horses, the riding style and the terrain that we are going to explore. Take a leisurely ride along the Gaap River and into the surrounding area. The afternoon is at your disposal for relaxation, hiking, taking pictures, etc. Your luggage also needs to be rearranged at this point: pack a small bag with just the necessary items for two days. Vehicle tracks are non-existent or poor in the wilderness, a challenge even for hardened four-wheel drives. They have to transport everything that is needed, but it should be as little as possible. Motorized back-up will only be used for the pioneer rides; pack animals are envisaged for future trails.
Day 3: Augurabis to Koelkrans ("cool cliffs"). This is serious riding over varying terrain where you may spot mountain zebra, Oryx, klipspringer and rock hyrax as well as birds of prey and owls. The canyon will greet us with stunning views. We will stop at the lookout point and then descend into the massive gorges. Our camp is pitched at a large natural pool surrounded by steep cliffs. You will no doubt appreciate a swim in this otherwise extremely dry area.
Day 4: From Koelkrans to Sandy Beach or Flamingo Bay -  names as extraordinary as the setting. Yes, we might even see a flamingo in the desert. The trail follows a section of the Fish River where few people have set foot before. Who knows what lies in store for us! Whether we ride through the canyon or on zebra tracks around the rim depends on the water level in the river.
Day 5: From Flamingo Bay through the Gaap River back to Augurabis. We continue further down the Fish River to where it is met by the Gaap River and then follow the Gaap’s own winding and interesting passage upstream, past the desolate ruins of a homestead – incredible that any human being could have lived there - and further on into an unexpected, dense riverine forest. Back at Augurabis you are reunited with all your belongings.
Day 6: Augurabis to Holoog Mountain. Leaving the canyon behind we move on zigzag paths through bizarre weathered rocks towards southeast where the basalt ridges open onto a vast plain, to enjoy some fast cantering and larger numbers of game like Burchell’s zebra, springbuck and ostrich as well as herds of Oryx. As we find ourselves in fenceless surroundings we are not bound to a specific route. We camp in a dry riverbed at the foot of Holoog Mountain on wide open terrain with a grand panorama. You have your entire luggage at your disposal and ReitSafari’s usual camp facilities and routine are fully operational.
Day 7: Holoog Mountain to Canyon Mountain Camp. We ride through miles and miles of savannah into an area dotted with granite boulders and charismatic quiver trees, to arrive at Cañon Mountain Camp for lunch. The afternoon includes a drive to the main lookout point at the Fish River Canyon, where "ordinary" tourists go hiking and sightseeing. You will be amazed to see where we went with our horses just a few days earlier. Enjoy a little luxury and a very special evening at Cañon Mountain Camp.
Day 8: Canyon Mountain Camp to Fourie se Gat ("a hole dug by Mr Fourie"). We ride parallel to the Fish River Canyon across vast open savannah where game is abundant. Distant hills form a boundary in the east, while the awe-inspiring canyon landscape accompanies us in the west. Sunsets over the Fish River Canyon ‘bad lands’ are spectacular, illuminating the granite hilltops behind you and the sandy plains of the Gamkab basin ahead of you, with Norotshama peak on the southern horizon.
Day 9: Fourie se Gat to Gamkab Camp. As we approach the Orange River valley the trail is winding through granite hilltops part of the way, until we reach wide open spaces of ever changing scenery. Our campsite is a cosy spot next to the Gamkab River.
Day 10: Gamkab Camp to Boulders Camp. We ride across a patch of isolated sand dunes and enter the Aussenkehr plains. Our camp is surrounded by boulders, stacked as if giants had been at work with toy bricks. Again, we are not bound to a specific route and can roam our vast surroundings freely.
Day 11: Our last ride. The contrasts are stunning yet again. From the wide, open plain we ride into the very narrow King's Throne Canyon. The view from the lookout point is simply amazing: lush vineyards on the banks of the Orange/Gariep River in an otherwise barren landscape. After another happy canter and a stroll through the vineyards we finally unsaddle at Norotshama River Resort on the riverbank. Take a swim in the pool (or the river) and enjoy sundowners on the river and dinner at the lodge.
Day 12: Early birds may want to go for a short canoe trip downstream, before we leave for Klein-Aus Vista later in the morning. First we drive along the Orange River, then turn north to Rosh Pinah and continue next to the Diamond Restricted Area to Aus. Join a sundowner excursion to the Wild Horses of the Namib, with an experienced guide, later in the afternoon.
Day 13: Depart for Windhoek after an early breakfast, for a seven-hour transfer. Alternatively you can fly to Windhoek or Cape Town from Rosh Pinah on day 12, or from Luderitz which is an hour's drive from Klein Aus Vista.

Fish River Southern Plain
Fish River Southern Plains Trail
ReitSafari's new challenge for enthusiastic riders without much time!

The Northern Canyon Trail and the Southern Plains Trail are both components of the Fish River Canyon Trail. The Southern Plains Trail is the second half of the Fish River Canyon to Orange River Trail. The Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon on earth and internationally recognised as one of Africa’s most magnificent natural features. We ride parallel to the Fish River Canyon across endless plains, only to be stopped by the Orange/Gariep River which forms Namibia’s southern border. Distances covered per day vary between 20 and 55 kilometres.

The area is part of the Nama Karoo Desert biome, situated on the fringe of the transitional zone between Nama Karoo and Succulent Karoo. The Orange River valley at Aussenkehr is the most arid part of the Nama Karoo biome. Aussenkehr Park is also home to a small population of feral Namib horses. They are descended from a group of seventeen horses which were relocated during the 1992 drought from the original wild horse population at Garub in the Namib Desert.

Details: Windhoek – Windhoek: 7 days, 6 nights, Saturday to Friday. 4 days riding, 2 days for transfers and a visit to the famous Wild Horses of the Namib.

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet us at 7h30 at the Tourist Information kiosk in downtown Windhoek. The kiosk is at the airport bus terminal and taxi rank opposite the Kalahari Sands Hotel. Please let us know about your travel arrangements in advance so that we can contact you in case of delays. The transfer from Windhoek to the northern Fish River Canyon takes about eight hours and includes a light packed lunch. In the early afternoon we arrive at Gondwana Cañon Lodge for coffee or a drink; meet your fellow-riders on a drive to the main lookout point at the Fish River Canyon - where tourists usually go hiking and sightseeing. You will be amazed to see where we have been with our horses a few days earlier, and you will hear exciting stories about riding the canyon. Check in at Cañon Mountain Camp and be greeted by hosts, guides, local crew and the horses. At dinner, around the campfire under the African sky, we welcome new arrivals and say goodbye to those who have to leave us after completing the Northern Canyon Trail.
Day 2: Cañon Mountain Camp to Fourie se Gat ("a hole dug by Mr Fourie"). We ride parallel to the Fish River Canyon across vast open savannah where game is abundant. Distant hills form a boundary in the east, while the awe-inspiring canyon landscape accompanies us in the west. Sunsets over the Fish River Canyon ‘bad lands’ are spectacular, illuminating the granite hilltops behind us and the sandy plains of the Gamkab basin ahead of us, with Norotshama peak on the southern horizon.
Day 3: Fourie se Gat to Gamkab Camp. As we approach the Orange River valley the trail is winding through granite hilltops part of the way, until we reach wide open spaces of ever changing scenery. Our campsite is a cosy spot next to the Gamkab River.
Day 4: Gamkab Camp to Boulders Camp. We ride across a patch of isolated sand dunes and enter the Aussenkehr plains. Our camp is surrounded by boulders, stacked as if giants had been at work with toy bricks. Again, we are not bound to a specific route and can roam our vast surroundings freely.
Day 5: Our last ride. The contrasts are stunning yet again. From the wide, open plain we ride into the very narrow King’s Throne Canyon. The view from the lookout point is simply amazing: green vineyards on the banks of the Orange/Gariep River in an otherwise barren landscape. After another happy canter and a stroll through the vineyards we finally unsaddle at Norotshama River Resort on the riverbank. Take a swim in the pool (or the river) and enjoy sundowners on the river and dinner at the lodge.
Day 6: Early birds may want to go for a short canoe trip downstream, before we leave for Klein-Aus Vista later in the morning. First we drive along the Orange River, then turn north to Rosh Pinah and continue next to the Diamond Restricted Area to Aus. Join a sundowner excursion to the Wild Horses of the Namib, with an experienced guide, later in the afternoon.
Day 7: Depart for Windhoek after an early breakfast, for a seven-hour transfer. Alternatively you can fly to Windhoek or Cape Town from Rosh Pinah on day 12, or from Lüderitz which is an hour’s drive from Klein-Aus Vista.

Northern Canyons
Fish River Northern Canyon Trail
For riders with lots of enthusiasm but not much time!

The Northern Canyon Trail and the Southern Plains Trail are both components of the Fish River Canyon Trail. This trail is the first part of the Fish River Canyon to Orange River Trail. It is the perfect opportunity for riders with just one week to spare to nevertheless participate in a Reitsafari adventure. The challenge is by no means less than that of the Central Namib Desert and the Damaraland to Skeleton Coast trails. The Northern Canyon Trail combines dramatic canyon landscapes with vast desert plains. Participants experience real wilderness areas, which are otherwise almost inaccessible, as well as the freedom of riding without restrictions. The Fish River Canyon is the second largest canyon on earth and internationally recognised as one of Africa’s most magnificent natural features. We start off in and along the upper canyon. Distances covered per day vary between 20 and 55 kilometres.

Details: Windhoek – Windhoek: 8 days, 7 nights, Sunday to Sunday. 6 days riding, 2 days for transfers and an excursion to the main lookout point at the Fish River Canyon.

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet us at 8h00 at the Tourist Information kiosk in downtown Windhoek. The kiosk is at the airport bus terminal and taxi rank opposite the Kalahari Sands Hotel. Please let us know about your travel arrangements in advance so that we can contact you in case of delays. The transfer from Windhoek to the northern Fish River Canyon takes about eight hours, including a picnic. In the late afternoon we arrive at Augurabis, an almost forgotten farmstead, well hidden in lush vegetation close to a natural spring in the Gaap River. Augurabis is located in Gondwana Cañon Park, a private nature reserve of some 120.000 ha, dedicated to nature conservation and sustainable tourism. Meet your fellow-riders, hosts, guides and local crew.
Day 2: After breakfast and briefings you go on a "trial ride" to get acquainted with the horses, the riding style and the terrain that we are going to explore. Take a leisurely ride along the Gaap River and into the surrounding area. The afternoon is at your disposal for relaxation, hiking, taking pictures, etc. Your luggage also needs to be rearranged at this point: pack a small bag with just the necessary items for two days. Vehicle tracks are non-existent or poor in the wilderness, a challenge even for hardened four-wheel drives. They have to transport everything that is needed, but it should be as little as possible. Motorized back-up will only be used for the pioneer rides; pack animals are envisaged for future trails.
Day 3: Augurabis to Koelkrans ("cool cliffs"). This is serious riding over varying terrain where you may spot mountain zebra, Oryx, klipspringer and rock hyrax as well as birds of prey and owls. The canyon will greet us with stunning views. We will stop at the lookout point and then descend into the massive gorges. Our camp is pitched at a large natural pool surrounded by steep cliffs. You will no doubt appreciate a swim in this otherwise extremely dry area.
Day 4: From Koelkrans to Sandy Beach or Flamingo Bay - names as extraordinary as the setting. Yes, we might even see a flamingo in the desert. The trail follows a section of the Fish River where few people have set foot before. Who knows what lies in store for us! Whether we ride through the canyon or on zebra tracks around the rim depends on the water level in the river.
Day 5: From Flamingo Bay through the Gaap River back to Augurabis. We continue further down the Fish River to where it is met by the Gaap River and then follow the Gaap’s own winding and interesting passage upstream, past the desolate ruins of a homestead – incredible that any human being could have lived there - and further on into an unexpected, dense riverine forest. Back at Augurabis you are reunited with all your belongings.
Day 6: Augurabis to Holoog Mountain. Leaving the canyon behind we move on zigzag paths through bizarre weathered rocks towards southeast where the basalt ridges open onto a vast plain, to enjoy some fast cantering and larger numbers of game like Burchell’s zebra, springbuck and ostrich as well as herds of Oryx. As we find ourselves in fenceless surroundings we are not bound to a specific route. We camp in a dry riverbed at the foot of Holoog Mountain on wide open terrain with a grand panorama. You have your entire luggage at your disposal and ReitSafari's usual camp facilities and routine are fully operational.
Day 7: Holoog Mountain to Canyon Mountain Camp. We ride through boundless savannah into an area dotted with granite boulders and charismatic quiver trees, to arrive at Cañon Mountain Camp for lunch. The afternoon includes a drive to the main lookout point at the Fish River Canyon, where ‘ordinary’ tourists go hiking and sightseeing. You will be amazed to see where we went with our horses just a few days earlier. Enjoy a little luxury and a very special evening at Canyon Mountain Camp.
Day 8: Depart for Windhoek after an early breakfast, for a seven-hour transfer.

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