The excitement ran high on the morning of 9 June 2014 when our little group of 5 ladies left Joburg on our journey to Namibia to hike the Fish River Canyon. Even the freezing cold did not dampen our enthusiasm as we said goodbye to the city lights in the darkness, coffee and picnic basket packed. We were to meet the rest of our group along the way, sleeping over in Upington and traveling further to Ai-Ais the next day. We were to start our hike on Wednesday 11 June 2014. Along the way we met up with a group of hikers coming back from the Fish River Canyon, one of the members a dear friend. While waiting on them, we had a lot of fun trying all kinds of ballet moves just to keep warm, but it was great meeting up with the group and having a chat about the experience that awaited us. In Upington we met up with the rest of our group and left the next morning for Namibia. The border crossing went extremely smooth and soon we were on the dirt road to Ai-Ais, still in freezing weather!

Before we new it, it was Wednesday and we were on our way to Hobas, the last preparations done, some of us a bit more quiet than we were, not sure what to expect. Reaching the viewpoint a small distance from the start of the trail left me in awe…what magnificent view…and I realised, soon I will be down there at the bottom with only my backpack of supplies, my co-hikers and nature! Even the view at the starting point of the hike is enough to take your breath away and I reminded myself that this is the 2nd largest canyon in the world.

The descent is steep and difficult, as everyone told me it would be and those members of the group that had a fear for heights, really had a tough journey down, but we all made it to the bottom safely. We did not make our planned camping site the 1st night. The terrain on the 2nd day is rough with big boulders to scramble over , lots of rocks and patches of thick sand in between, the going was slow and we still had to make up for the distance we lost on the 1st day, but we still made time to take a few photos at the famous Wespa scooter and at a few other interesting spots. Exhausted and with the first blisters and toe nail problems appearing, we reached our campsite just before dark, but the reward was hot water, coming from the Palm springs, a hot water fountain with water coming out of the earth at 65 degrees.

From the 3rd day the going got easier as the terrain improved,  but the blisters and toenails got worse 🙂 We only reached the 20km mark on the 3rd morning and there was still 70 kms to go in the next 3 days. From now on we also had to cross the river a few times a day, but with the water level being a bit low, we only had to take of our shoes once, the other crossings were stepping from one stone to another, carefully not to slip and fall!

We were blessed with wonderful weather in the canyon and in the evening we would enjoy a delicious meal, thanks to our leader, De Bruto Meyer who dried veggies weeks before and planned each dinner…dividing us into cooking teams, each team having a turn on a different night to cook dinner!

The days went past, our feet got worse, plasters and pain tables were used all around, but the beauty and tranquility of the Canyon was overwhelming…the experience was amazing…

It was a very emotional moment, when we reached our destination on the morning of the 6th day, and walked up the steps,  De Bruto in front and the rest of us following, being applauded by some of the holiday makers and staff of Ai-Ais. We all completed the 90km hike, the mighty Fish River Canyon Hike, one the most famous in Southern Africa, without any serious injuries. Smiling and hugging we congratulated each other, setting off to have a well deserved ice cold bear…again sighing….WE MADE IT!!

I would like to thank each member of our group for the support, friendship and companionship during this hike, during the easy and difficult times. I was very privileged to be part of this group and each member is an amazing person! Thank you. I am not a poet, but I wrote something (unfortunately in Afrikaans) to express some of the feelings I experienced in these few days.

VISRIVIER – 2014 (net ‘n paar woorde, krom, maar uit die hart)

In verwondering staar ek oor die afgrond, na die Visrivier wat daar doer onder kronkel, Nou nou is ek ook ‘n spikkel, tussen die wande van die canyon toe gewikkel

Met bene wat bewe, maar baie moed gegewe, voetjie vir voetjie pak ons die aftog aan, Onder wag die staptog, die ondervinding van my lewe

Ek les my dors met soete rivierwater, maar verder moet ons aan, groot rotse bestaan, Ons moet deur dit, om dit, oor dit, al met die kronkelende Visrivier saam

De Bruto gee die pas, weet ek wat op my wag? Aan die einde van die dag vind my liggaam rus, op die Visrivier se sanderige kus

Vroegoggend is ek reg, De Bruto wys ons tog die weg, Tree vir tree, stukkie vir stukkie beur ons voort. Bedags skroei die son op ons neer, maar snags is dit die volmaan se eer

Stadig maak die canyon sy poorte oop, Ai-Ais is ons hoop, Die einde van ons tog kom al hoe nader, voete is seer…wonder ek…sal ek weer?

In gelid styg ons die trappies uit, met harte wat jubelend juig, Dankie Heer vir die groot genade, ons is veilig by U Oase!