Day 1
Participants arrive at Cañon Outpost in Gondwana Cañon Park at the Fish River Canyon by their own arrangement. In the evening we discuss all there is to know about the tour and acquaint ourselves with the equipment. (Incl. dinner and accommodation at Cañon Outpost).
Optional on request - Tour with transfer from and to Windhoek: guests are picked up at their accommodation in Windhoek;
Day 2
Mule Trekking
After breakfast we load our gear onto the mules and set off at around 7h00. We leave the gorge of the seasonal Gaap River on zebra paths, clamber up to plateaus and cross them, and every now and then we stop to marvel at the vast canyon scenery. At midday we have a picnic in the shade while the mules move on ahead of us. In the afternoon we continue down an escarpment, through rugged valleys and across stony
and sandy plains. Finally we arrive at the Fish River - which we follow upstream. Patches of river pebbles alternate with slabs of rock and sand dunes. Dramatic chapters of Earth’s history can be gleaned from the massive layers of rock. Occasionally we come across deep pools of water in which we take a refreshing dip or fish for Fish River carp. In the afternoon we arrive at Echo Pools Camp – named after the echo reverberating from the arched rockfaces. Sipping sundowners we watch in awe as the rock reflects the light of the setting sun in a blaze of colours. (BLD)
Day 3
Mule Trekking
Today a short, but at the same time strenuous leg of the hike lies ahead of us. A zigzaf path as steep as it is littered with stones is the way up, onto a high plateau. The exertion is amply rewarded: with a 360 degree panoramic view across the canyon scenery which extends to the far horizon, 40km and beyond into every direction - a spectacular contrast to the limited field of vision in the canyon. At midday we find some shade for our picnic. Thus fortified we cross the plateau, past clusters of quiver trees, and come to a little spring. To our amazement there is a high waterfall. Depending on the time of year and the yield of the rainy season it either lies dry or has water cascading over it. In the afternoon the highlight of our tour awaits us: our camp, pitched right next to the rim of the Horse Shoe Canyon. (BLD)