Augrabies Falls

Augrabies Falls is where the Orange River, South Africa's longest, drops about 56 metres into an 18-kilometre granite gorge. The setting is desert: polished rock, quiver trees and klipspringer, with the roar of the water audible long before you see it.

Why visit Augrabies Falls

Boardwalks lead to viewpoints over the main fall, and the national park has hiking trails, night drives and the three-day Klipspringer trail. Black rhinos, giraffes and gemsbok live in the park, and the stargazing is outstanding.

Best time to visit Augrabies Falls

Flow peaks between December and April, after summer rains upstream. Winter is cold at night but bright and calm.

How to get to Augrabies Falls

Fly to Upington and drive 120 km west, or include Augrabies on a road trip to the Kgalagadi.

The gorge and the park

At Augrabies, the Orange River drops about 56 metres into a granite gorge some 18 kilometres long. The Khoi name means "place of great noise". Boardwalks and viewing platforms lead from the rest camp to the main fall and the gorge. The national park around it is semi-desert, with klipspringers, rock dassies, giraffes and, in places, black rhinos, and lookout points such as Ararat and Oranjekom over the gorge.

Practical information

Augrabies Falls National Park has a rest camp with chalets, a campsite, a restaurant and a shop, and conservation fees are charged at the gate. The falls are strongest after summer rains upstream, from about December to April. Summers are very hot; walk early or late. Keep to the walkways: the polished granite near the gorge is slippery, and people have fallen.

Pair Augrabies Falls with a safari

Augrabies sits naturally on a route to the red dunes and black-maned lions of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Tips for visiting Augrabies Falls

Use the boardwalks and stay behind barriers: the granite is smooth and has claimed lives. Visit the falls at dawn and dusk, when the gorge glows red, and take a night drive in the park. For planning, see our South Africa guide and the month-by-month water levels, or compare it with Africa's two most visited falls, Victoria Falls and Murchison Falls.

National parks and sights nearby

• Augrabies Falls National Park
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Namaqualand