In 1989 the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Resort, Fish River Canyon and Huns Mountains west of the Canyon were incorporated
into one conservation area of 500 00 ha. The attraction of this rugged mountain land is its isolated and otherworldly landscape and wealth of interesting xerophytic plants such as the
halfmens or elephant's trunk, Pachypodiurn narnaquanurn. Geologically and botanically the area is similar to South Africa's Richtersveld south of the Orange River. The long-term
conservation objective to manage the Huns Mountains and Ai-Ais Game Park jointly with the Richtersveld National Park as one integrated Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) was
realised during 2003 (see further on).
Eroded over many millennia, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest natural gorge in Africa. Set in a harsh, stony plain, dotted with
drought-resistant succulents such as the distinctive quiver tree or kokerboom, Aloe dichotoma, and Euphorbia gregaria, the canyon is a spectacular natural phenomenon that took
hundreds of millions of years to evolve. While its full length is 160 km - the width is up to 27 km and depth up to 550 m - its most spectacular section is the 56-km stretch between
the northernmost and southernmost viewpoints.
Because the river flows intermittently, there is always water in certain of the pools, except in very dry years. They contain small-
and largemouth yellowfish, sharptooth catfish, Mozambique tilapia and cornmon carp, and are also frequented by the water monitor or leguan.
Baboon, rock dassie, ground squirrel
and klipspringer are often seen in the canyon, while the presence of leopard and mountain zebra is indicated by tracks left at waterholes. Kudu inhabit the densely vegetated lower
reaches north of Ai-Ais. An interesting variety of birds, such as the Olive thrush, Cape robin and African black duck are found in the canyon.
Seasoned hikers regard the 90-km
Fish River Canyon trail as one of Southern Africa's major challenges. The trail leads from the northernmost viewpoint to Ai-Ais (Hot Springs Resort) at the southern end and takes from
four to five days to complete. For detailed information on the hike, see the Adventure section.
Accommodation provided by NWR in the Park is available at the Ai-Ais Hot Springs
Resort in the south of the canyon and for campers at the Hobas Camp Site near the northern lookout Point. |
