South Africa

Ai-Ais Richtersveld National Park

Water heated deep underground rises through cracks in the rock at 60°C. Ai-Ais means fire water. A place to slow down before the Fish River Canyon pulls you back onto the road.

View trips from the region

Discover everything about this location.

Here, fire water rises from the rocks.

Deep underground, the water at Ai-Ais heats naturally. It finds its way up through cracks in the rock and still reaches the surface at 60°C.

The name comes from the Nama people. Ai-Ais means fire water. A very literal name for a place where hot spring water emerges from the rocks.

Today, Ai-Ais is mainly a place to slow down beside the hot springs. It is also a base for visiting the Fish River Canyon.

Then the Fish River Canyon waits.

From Ai-Ais, you can visit the Fish River Canyon. The gorge is around 160 kilometres long, up to 27 kilometres wide in places and reaches depths of up to 550 metres.

According to the current source information, it is the second-longest canyon in the world. Only the Grand Canyon in the United States is longer.

The numbers give you a sense of scale. Standing at the edge, the canyon simply stretches away for kilometres.

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View trips from the region

What you can do in and around Ai-Ais:

  • Visit the hot springs
  • Visit the Fish River Canyon

Self-drive trips in the region

South Africa
Mozambique
eSwatini
South Africa, eSwatini and Mozambique Beach & Safari
22
days
from
1620
1620
p.p.
This self-drive journey crosses three countries and combines camping with fixed accommodation. Walking, game drives, diving and snorkelling are all part of the possibilities along the way. You travel from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park, continue into Mozambique, then return to Johannesburg via eSwatini.
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South Africa
West Cape and Namaqualand hiking & 4x4
14
days
from
1250
1250
p.p.
This 14-day route starts and finishes in Cape Town, combining rugged landscapes, the Atlantic coast, active days and 4x4 tracks. The first days are based in Stellenbosch, close to Cape Town. From here, hike in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. The route then runs north to the Cederberg, where Wolfberg Cracks, Wolfberg Arch, Maalgat and Maltese Cross are all listed as walking options. Tankwa Karoo National Park changes the setting completely.
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South Africa
Garden Route and Baviaanskloof Hiking & 4x4
14
days
from
1350
1350
p.p.
Addo gives the journey a safari opening. Then the road changes. Baviaanskloof calls for a 4x4, and the pace drops to match the tracks and the terrain. On the other side lies the coast. Storms River Mouth, Harkerville and Wilderness bring together ocean, forest and river. George and Swellendam then lead into Stellenbosch and Cape Town.
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