17 things to do at Augrabies Falls National Park – Roxanne Reid

By Roxanne Reid
Augrabies. About 120km west of Upington in the Northern Cape, it’s a place that feels like another world. While the Augrabies Falls are understandably the centrepiece, there’s way more to the national park than that. For instance, think arid-adapted plants and animals, interesting rocks, hikes, and more. Here’s my pick of 17 things to do at Augrabies Falls National Park.

The Falls are pretty much the main reason people head to Augrabies Falls National Park. Stroll along the raised boardwalk in the main camp to the seven* viewing decks, each giving you a new angle of the stunning 90m high Augrabies Falls, with a 56m freefall.

Watch the water crash over the rocks and plunge into the gorge below and you’ll understand why the Khoi people called this place Aukoerebis, which means ‘place of great noise’. Normally, about 50-60 cubic metres of water flow over the falls each second, but during the January 2011 floods, a wild 4 800 cubic metres roiled over the falls every second.

If you’re up for an evening adventure, head back along the boardwalk with a torch after dark when the Falls are lit up between 20:00 and 22:00. They take on a softer, slightly eerie vibe at night, way different from their daytime roar.

The Falls are likely to be at their highest between February and April, after good rains. Be aware that the raised boardwalks may be slippery when wet.

* Note that high water levels in 2022/23 damaged three of the viewing decks and a contractor appointed in 2024 defaulted on the repairs. While the park arranges to appoint another contractor, four viewing decks remain open so you can get different close views of the Falls.

2. See the gorge

Hop in your car and head to the Ararat, Oranjekom, and Echo Corner viewpoints that look out over the Orange (Gariep) River gorge downstream of the Falls. Each spot has its own vibe. Ararat and Oranjekom are all about those deep gorges and the sound of rushing water, while Echo Point is a bit more chill and tranquil. You’ll get a thrill at each one, just in a different way.

3. Spend a night at Gorge Cottage

At Oranjekom you’ll find the magnificent Gorge Cottage underneath the viewing platform – and I swear there’s no better view anywhere in SANParks. Once other visitors have to leave the viewpoint to return to camp before sunset, you’ll have the whole place to yourself in romantic solitude. It was scorching hot when we visited in the month of March but a water cooler inside does help to combat the heat. Hot as it was, it was wonderful to watch the softening of the light as the sun set, to see the impressive gorge view through huge sliding glass doors that appear to bring the outside in.

See more photos and info about Gorge Cottage

4. Enjoy a game drive​

There’s a 94km road through the game area, taking in the Hartmann’s, Lekkerwater and Quiver loops. Although there are sadly no longer any guided drives in the park, you can still make the most of this route by driving it in your own vehicle. Take time to appreciate the landscapes and rock formations, the hardy plants like three-thorn, shepherd’s tree and wild tamarisk. Some of the species you might see include giraffe, hartebeest, Hartmann’s zebra, steenbok, kudu, springbok and Africa’s largest antelope, the eland. Gemsbok are particularly well adapted to the heat and dryness of Augrabies, with a special organ that acts as a radiator to cool the blood that goes to the brain. There’s also a seemingly unending procession of dassies (rock hyrax) scampering among the rocks.

Predators in the park include African wild cat, black-backed jackal, and caracal. Along the river, look for the Cape clawless otter. Other animals that live here but you’re unlikely to see given their nocturnal habits are aardwolf and small-spotted genet.

Look out too for birds like sociable weaver, pygmy falcon, Verreaux’s (black) eagle, and swallow-tailed bee-eater. See point 10 for more about birding.

Take a picnic or braai fixings with you on your drive and stop about halfway along the main game route at the Af en Toe picnic site. It has braais, picnic tables, and ablutions. After your lunch, you can take a different road home; if you’ve driven out along the northern route, drive back along the southern road, or vice versa.

5. Admire the ingenuity of the klipspringer 

Look out for the agile, surefooted klipspringer in the rocky hills, an animal well adapted to the harsh extremes of this environment. It can outrun any ground predator over rocky terrain. Its tiny hooves and balletic tiptoe stance allow it to plant its feet in small spaces between rocks while rubbery stuff under the hooves gives it added grip. It’s not dependent on water, but soaks up all it needs from the plants it eats. The hair on its coat is hollow to insulate it against extremes of heat and cold.

6. Go rock spotting

This massive rounded granite mound or ‘whaleback’ isn’t far from the main camp. Drive to the parking spot and walk up to the summit for a great view of the surrounding landscape. If you’re more energetic you can walk there on the circular Dassie Trail (see point 9).

8. Marvel at the quiver tree

Perhaps Augrabies’ most enduring symbol apart from the Falls themselves is the kokerboom, or quiver tree (Aloidendron dichotomum). They’re succulents, with fibrous branches and yellow flowers in winter. The San used them for quivers for their arrows, while the big stems were used for coffins and as fridges to keep food cool. Sadly, many quiver trees in the park are dying, and research is underway to determine whether the cause is over-browsing by animals, climate change, insect infestation, or other reasons.

There are about 70 species of other plants in the park, including the dominant camelthorn tree (Vachellia erioloba), sweet-thorn (Vachellia karoo) – both more commonly known as acacias – and the shepherd’s tree (Boscia albitrunca). All provide both food and welcome shade for animals during the heat of the day.

9. Take a hike

Walk the 2km Gorge Trail that takes you from camp to Arrow Point and Twin Falls and back again. Or try the self-guided 6.5km Dassie Interpretive Trail. It’s a circular route that starts at the rest camp, winds through the gorge to Arrow Point, Twin Falls, and Moon Rock, before looping back to the camp. Some scrambling over slippery rocks means you need to be fairly fit. Don’t forget take take water with you, as well as sturdy walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat. You can download a pdf brochure for this trail containing notes on points of interest to look out for along the way. A map is also available from Reception.

For something more full-on, book ahead to hike the 35.8km Klipspringer Trail that will take you three days and two nights. The first day is 14.4km, the second 9.9km, and the last day 11.5km. It’s a demanding hike so don’t take your planning lightly. Start early and be prepared for hot hiking. Take everything you need because all that’s provided at the overnight stops are bunk beds, mattresses, fire wood, braai grid, kettle, potjie, and water for washing. There’s a flush toilet but no electricity or showers. The water on the trail is fine for washing but NOT for drinking, so bring some kind of filtration/purification device. Note that this hike is closed between October and March because of extreme heat.

Don’t forget to wear sturdy hiking shoes and to take a pair of something more comfy for around the camp after the day’s hiking is done. Sunscreen and a hat are also essential, as well as drinking water.

Download a brochure for the Klipspringer Trail here. It gives more info about what to expect and how to book. It’s essential to prebook with SANParks Central Reservations (see ‘Need to know’ below) and there’s a minimum of 2 and maximum of 12 people.

10. Go birding 

There are about 180 species of birds in Augrabies. Watch out for Verreaux’s (black) eagles on the rocky ledges of the river gorge or soaring overhead, listen for the cry of the African fish eagle. In the rest camp you might find golden-tailed woodpecker, dusky sunbird, rosy-faced lovebird, acacia pied barbet, Namaqua warbler, ashy tit, black-chested prinia, and pririt batis.

On drives around the game area, scour the rocky koppies for mountain wheatear, Cape bunting, short-toed rock-thrush, and cinnamon-breasted warbler.

Other birds you might see in the veld include Karoo korhaan, Ludwig’s bustard, double-banded courser, spike-heeled lark, grey-backed sparrow-lark, and chat flycatcher. Look out too for sociable weavers and their huge communal nests, which can have up to 50 chambers and accommodate 300 birds. The nest is so well insulated that the temperature never falls below 15 degrees in winter or rises to more than 30 in summer.

11. See the stars

At night, anyone with a love of stargazing can marvel at the density of the Milky Way and a multitude of other stars in a very dark sky. Don’t forget to look up from your braai at the campsite, or wait until everyone else is asleep to appreciate the stars that cluster so clearly above you in the clean, dry air.

12. Explore a 4×4 Trail
There’s a 30km 4×4 Trail that starts about 3km before the Hartmann’s Loop in the game area and spits you out again onto the main gravel road about 5km before the Af en Toe picnic site. It’s a one-way route and requires a minimum of two 4×4 vehicles. There’s no need to prebook, but it’s a good idea to let someone know where you’re going. It’s mainly hard, rocky terrain, with some sandy dry riverbeds to drive through. It’s well worth while for the scenery alone, as well as a chance to spot mammals and birds.

There are two escape routes along the way if you want to back out and return to the main gravel road. Although it’s only of moderate difficulty, it’s slow going so leave plenty of time. The 4×4 route alone should take around 4-6 hours, depending on how often you stop for photos. But if you include the time getting to the start of the trail and back from the end, the total drive time would be around 8 hours. Download a pdf of the map showing the 4×4 trail, marked in green, from the top of this page.

13. Enjoy the landscapes​

The road from the main camp to the gorge viewpoints takes you through some rocky landscapes that are striking in their starkness. On the way, don’t miss a stop at Swartrante – black hills of igneous rock – and swivel to see the view in all directions.

14. Go mountain biking
If you’re a keen mountain biker, bring your bike and knock yourself out riding any of the roads in the park. Don’t go off-road because if you’re caught you’re liable to face a fine. Your rewards – apart from the exercise-induced endorphine rush – are the changing landscape and interesting rock formations. (PS Motorbikes aren’t allowed in the game viewing area.)

15. Get to know the Augrabies flat lizard

Look for the Broadley’s (or Augrabies) flat lizard from the boardwalks at the Falls. It gets its name from its flat shape, which allows it to squeeze into tight rock crevices. The males are bright blue or green, yellow and red, the females drab. Males need this colourful costume because they compete for the ladies’ attention. They bob their heads up and down, dance circles around the ladies and try to grab one of them by a leg or the neck to bonk her. Sometimes this attracts the attention of other males and results in an attempted gang-bang. Usually, the females simply ignore them all when they mob her in this way. The best time to see these aggro breeding behaviours is from August to December.

16. Go rafting
Join Kalahari Outventures for a guided half- or full-day rafting trip on the Orange River at Augrabies, with grade 2 and 3 rapids. Or if you’re looking for a longer adventure, book an overnight or two-night rafting trip on the river. All these rafting trips happen inside the park although they’re led by guides who are independent of the park. They have accreditation from the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa and the South African Maritime Safety Authority.

17. Stay in Augrabies accommodation

Best time to visit Augrabies

• It’s particularly impressive to see the Falls when in flood, usually from February to April after good rains upstream.
• Temperatures in the spring/autumn months of April/May and August/September are more moderate and comfortable for visitors visiting Augrabies Falls National Park.
• This is an arid region, with extreme variations of temperature. The summer months of October to March can be stifling. Average daytime temperature in December to February is 41 degrees Celsius, although temperatures in the mid 40s aren’t unheard of. (This is just one reason why the rest camp’s swimming pools are so popular in summer.) The high temperatures are compounded by the presence of lots of rocks, which hold the heat so that temperatures around them can soar to 70 degrees.
• Remember that the 3-day Klipspringer hiking trail is closed between October and March because of extreme heat.
• The average minimum night-time temperature in mid-winter (June and July) is 0 degrees Celsius, occasionally plummeting to minus 5 degrees, but warming during the day to pleasant temperatures in the low 20s.
• Average annual rainfall in the park is around 125mm. The rainy season is mostly from November to April, with some exciting thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rain, and even hail. Some rain may occur in June/July but these are gentle rains compared to the summer rains.

Need to know

1. Download a pdf map of the park here.
2. At the rest camp, there’s a restaurant and shop selling food, meat, liquor, firewood, ice, and curios.
3. There’s no ATM in the park so bring your credit card and enough cash.
4. There’s a dedicated day visitors site where you can picnic, braai and use the swimming pool, even if you haven’t booked overnight accommodation in the park. The park is open to day visitors from 7:00 until 17:00 only, and a day visitor’s fee needs to be paid.
5. You can buy petrol and diesel at the main rest camp. The staff can also repair punctures.
6. All roads inside the game area are gravel roads.
7. The speed limit on the tar road between the entrance gate and the rest camp is 60km/h. The speed limit on gravel roads is 40km/h.
8. Wear shoes on summer nights as a precaution against scorpion stings.
9. It’s a good idea to use mosquito/insect repellent, especially in summer.
10. Black flies (muggies) breed in fast-flowing, rocky sections of the Orange (Gariep) River and can be a pest at Augrabies, especially between September and April.
11. You can ride your motorbike to the park and use it around the rest camp and campsite, but motorbikes aren’t allowed into the game area.
12. Two chalets in the rest camp are adapted for disabled visitors. There’s also an accessible ablution at the campsite. There are two wheelchair-accessible walkways and platforms to view the Falls, but wheelchair users will need help to get over the rough trail to the start of the walkway. There are ramps to the shop and restaurant.
13.  There are three swimming pools at the rest camp for overnight guests.
14. Reception hours are from 7:00 till 19:00 daily.
15. Entrance gate hours are from 7:00 to 18:30. Although the gate is manned 24 hours a day, you need to make arrangements with the park beforehand if you want to arrive after 18:30 or leave before 7:00.
16. The game area opens from 6:30 to 19:00 in April to August and from 6:00 to 19:30 in September to March.
17. Don’t feed the wildlife and remember that this includes birds!
18. Don’t pick, damage, or remove any plant, wildlife, natural or cultural items from the park without permission. This includes a prohibition on collecting firewood from the veld.
19. To make a booking, email [email protected], phone Central Reservations on 012- 4289111, or book online.
20. To contact the park directly with any queries, email [email protected] or phone 054-4529200.
21. For all other information, see Augrabies Falls National Parks’ website.

 
You may also enjoy
​48 hours at Augrabies waterfalls in South Africa
5 arid parks worth visiting in the Northern Cape

Did you enjoy the article? Pin this image!