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Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail

Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail — the trail guide

The Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail is a 76.3 km trek in Namibia, typically walked in 4–5 days, with 659 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (9 m of gain per km, topping out at 804 m).

Namibia's toughest wilderness trek runs roughly 85 km down the Fish River Canyon, the largest gorge in Africa, from the Hikers' Viewpoint near Hobas to the hot-spring resort at Ai-Ais. There is no marked path, no huts and no rescue: you scramble over boulders, wade river pools and camp wild on sandbanks, carrying all your food for four to five days.

Quick facts

Distance76.3 km
Total ascent659 m
Typical duration4–5 days
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness9 m gain per km
High point804 m
CountryNamibia
RegionNamibia

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 208 m · high point 804 m · 659 m total ascent over 76.3 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 811 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan34°17°15 mm
Feb34°17°6 mm
Mar32°16°7 mm
Apr30°15°3 mm
May26°12°2 mm
Jun22°9°3 mm
Jul21°7°1 mm
Aug23°8°1 mm
Sep26°10°2 mm
Oct30°13°4 mm
Nov32°14°2 mm
Dec33°15°1 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail?

The Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail is 76.3 km, and most hikers complete it in 4–5 days. Total elevation gain is 659 m.

How difficult is the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 9 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 804 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail?

In Namibia. The route starts near -27.578, 17.606 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.