FISH RIVER CANYON TO ORANGE RIVER - NAMIBIA
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This riding holiday in Namibia has a combination of dramatic canyon landscapes, spacious desert planes and the mighty Orange River. This offers both inaccessible countryside and real wilderness areas as well as fast riding without limitations. The Fish River Canyon area is internationally recognised as one of Africa's most magnificent sites and is the second largest canyon in the world. This trail crosses over three parks: Fish River Canyon Park, Gondwana Park and Aussenkehr Park, which is home to a small Namib Feral Horse population.
The riding is at all paces and this is for adventurous and fit riders with a love of nature and camping.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - FISH RIVER CANYON TO ORANGE RIVER
Day 1
Meet at 8am and transfer for about 8 hours including a picnic along the way. Arrive late afternoon at Augurabis, a nearly forgotten farmstead, well hidden in lush vegetation near a natural fountain in the Gaap River which is in the northern Fish River Canyon area. Augurabis is located in Gondwana Park, a private park of about 120 000 ha dedicated to conservation and tourism. Meet fellow-riders, hosts, guides and local crew.
Day 2
Ride from Springfontein to Koelkrans (“cool cliffs”). This is serious riding over variable terrain, to meet the Canyon with a stunning view, stop at the view point and descend into the canyon. Camp at a large natural pool surrounded by steep cliffs. Go for a much appreciated swim in an otherwise extremely dry area. You could see mountain zebra, Oryx, klipspringer and rock dassies, as well as birds of prey and owls, on the way.
Day 3
From Koelkrans to Augurabis. The ride might follow a section of the Fish River where few people have set foot before. Who knows what is waiting for us! Whether we ride in the canyon or on zebra tracks around the top will depend on the water level in the river. The ride in the riverbed is difficult and demanding but then we make our way up on a steep tract to the Plato before we cross some plains to find the unexpected forest at Augurabis in the Gaap River. Augurabis is situated on Gondwana Park, a private park of about 120 000 ha dedicated to conservation and tourism. Stunning views, unbelievable space and awesome scenery!
Day 4
Augurabis to Grenspos. Serpentine away from the canyons through bizarre weathered rocks to the southeast where the basalt ridges ends onto a vast plain, to enjoy some fast cantering and larger numbers of game like Burchell’s zebra, springbuck, ostrich and herds of oryx. As we ride in a fenceless environment we are riding wise not limited to a specific route and can go where the game is. We camp at the Mule Station from where Mule Trails Namibia is operated at the foot of Holoog Mountain on wide open terrain with a great panorama. All luggage available and back to ReitSafari's usual camp facilities and routine.
Day 5
Grenspos to Mountain Camp. Ride through endless savannah into an area strewn with granite boulders and charismatic quiver trees, to arrive for lunch at Mountain Camp. The afternoon is free for leisure and relaxation and individual photographic excursions or sun downer walks. Enjoy the luxury of en-suite bath rooms, made-up proper beds and a very special evening at Mountain Camp.
Day 6
After breakfast drive to the main view point of the Fish River Canyon, where the normal tourists go hiking and sight seeing. Drink a typical Namibian draft at Canyon Lodge on the way back and feast on home-made bread, meats, cheese and veggies for lunch. Tack up early afternoon to ride parallel to the course of the Fish River Canyon from Mountain Camp to Kanabis.
Day 7
Kanabis to Fourie se Gat (‘a hole dug by Mr. Fourie’).Wake up to the awesome sight of the shadows and colours of the view over the Canyon area towards the west. Then ride through the Euphorbia dotted plains and further on among granite hills to camp nestling onto a Quartz ridge. Usually you can enjoy a spectacular sunset over the Fish River Canyon ‘bad lands’ to the west, the Granite kopjes behind you and the sandy plains of the Gamkab basin ahead of you, with Norotshama peak on the southern horizon.
Day 8
Fourie se Gat to Gamkab Camp. As we ride towards the Orange River basin, we follow the road for some way winding through granite kopjes. Then we meet unlimited, ever changing scenery and camp at a cosy spot next to the Gamkab River.
Day 9
From Gamkab Camp to Boulders camp. Riding over a patch of isolated sand dunes onto Aussenkehr plains to a camp surrounded by stacked boulders which could only have been the work of giants. Again, riding is not limited to a specific route, as we can roam freely in a vast environment.
Day 10
The last ride. Stunning contrast again; ride from the wide open plains into the very narrow Kings Throne canyon, onto a view point surprisingly displaying the Orange/Gariep River with its vineyards in an otherwise barren landscape. Another happy canter and some strolling through the vineyards to finally untack at Norotshama River Resort, on the banks of the Orange River. Go for a swim in the pool (or river) and enjoy sundowners on the river and dinner at the lodge.
Day 11
Maybe go for a short canoe trip down the river and leave late morning for Klein-Aus Vista. Driving along the Orange river to Rosh Pinah and then along the Spergebiet (Restricted Diamond area) to Aus. In the afternoon set off on a Sundowner excursion to the Wild Horses of the Namib Desert with and experienced guide.
Day 12
Depart for Windhoek after an early breakfast, a seven hour transfer. Alternatively an option is possible to fly to Windhoek or Cape Town from Rosh Pinah airport (on day 12 when passing through Rosh Pinah) or Luderitz airport (one hour transfer from Klein-Aus Vista).
PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is given for your guidance only and it may be altered in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.
NOTES - FISH RIVER CANYON TO ORANGE RIVER
Riders heavier than the 85kg weight limit can join the ride if they pay an additional 30% for an extra horse on the trail. They will then ride each horse on alternate days while the other horse rests.
The weight limit for this ride is 13 st/187 lb/85 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Transfer from Windhoek to Augurabis, full-board accommodation at homestead, lodges and while camping, sight-seeing drive to Fish River Canyon Main Viewpoint (not Southern Plains Trail), transfer from Norotshama Ladge via Klein Aus Vista Lodge, excursion to the Wild Horses(not Northern Canyons Trail), transfer back to Windhoek.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
International flights, insurance, bottles and canned drinks on trail and during transfers, drinks at lodges/homesteads, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, gratuities for local guides and crew, flight cost if flying from Rosh Pinah or Luderitzbucht airports, transfer to airport.
FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
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