Day 4 Fish River
Canyon FRC
Rose at 730, ate at 8, on the hiking trail by 930, wrong
trail, no trail, around koppie, up the other koppie, to the top of a boulder
pile where the lodge takes its guests for happy hours, fridge and bar nestled
between 30 ft granite boulders and a view forever. Cool.
Let’s drive to Fish River Canyon, via Hobas, some tough
gravel roads, Devils Bend viewpoint, 6 Afrikaans families whooping it up, great
view of canyon, drove to Hiking Trail start point, lunch, crackers and cheese,
fruit, chips, Windhoek Lagers, Hunter’s Golds, all alone as young people from the only
other vehicle hiked down into canyon.
Now, don't get me wrong, but we ARE from Arizona, ya know, The Grand Canyon State! We know canyons. The Fish River Canyon is an exceptional feature, great layers, river visible snaking through the basalt down below. Vistas that go on and on until fading. And we really appreciated the solitude, which one struggles to find at Grand Canyon National Park, having the whole canyon to ourselves.
BUT, this is not the Grand Canyon. It is very similar to the canyons on the east end of the Canyon that are formed by the Little Colorado River. Gorgeous, spectacular appearing as it does, from out of nowhere.
Now, don't get me wrong, but we ARE from Arizona, ya know, The Grand Canyon State! We know canyons. The Fish River Canyon is an exceptional feature, great layers, river visible snaking through the basalt down below. Vistas that go on and on until fading. And we really appreciated the solitude, which one struggles to find at Grand Canyon National Park, having the whole canyon to ourselves.
BUT, this is not the Grand Canyon. It is very similar to the canyons on the east end of the Canyon that are formed by the Little Colorado River. Gorgeous, spectacular appearing as it does, from out of nowhere.
The beginning of he 5-day hiking trail
Glamour in the Canyon
Stalked a wild quiver tree in hopes of capturing it in its
native habitat.
Drove back, saw a large buck, a quiver tree, a zebra on a
koppie, some wee springboks, a duiker, and about 8 oryxes. Oryxi? Or is it like deer, one oryx, five oryx? Whatever. Very cool. On the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi, Oman, the Emirates, Qatar, Yemen, they make a big deal about the native oryx. But, the only ones I saw in 25 years there were the herds and herds all lined up painted on the tails of Qatar Airways Airbuses in Doha Airport. I believe, they are the last remaining Arabian oryxi left.
Chilled, went to pool area for strong sundowners, Jorgenson
gin and tonics, triples, found quiet
space to peer out to the darkening rocks and distant mountains, sublime.
Dinner, singing wait staff did the Amarula song.
In bed by 830.
