Travel Guide Augrabies Falls National Park

Augrabies, the "place of great noise", is an accident of course for the Orange River. More than 500 million years ago, the granite gneiss plates fractured, creating two falls of 56 and 75 m. An 18 km long canyon was cut into the ground by the force of the waters. In ancient times, the Bushmen came to hunt and fish around the falls. The park can be visited by car during the day, via the Moon Rock, Ararat, Echo Corner and Spring trails. From the camp, three one-hour walks are accessible to all. There are several viewpoints of the falls near the buildings. Malaria tablets are recommended by the management. In 1994, after the democratic elections, many black communities demanded the right to return to their homeland. In Riemvasmaak, north of the park by the track, the small black community living there was expropriated by the army from their village on the banks of the Molopo River and then resettled on their hot land. About 90% of the Riemvasmakers are Catholic and all speak Afrikaans. Similar landscapes can be found in Namibia. In some parts of the park, it is like being on the moon! Plants and trees have had to adapt to temperatures of over 40°C in summer.