Arrive at Klipspringer Base camp in the early afternoon in order to make final preparations and repack our gear for the hike.

We overnight in an old farmhouse with dorm style rooms with beds and mattresses.

Hot water showers and flush toilets available in the shared bathrooms.

This morning we have an early breakfast before we take our daypacks and transfer by 4-wheeldrive vehicle to the trailhead near the Loewen River. From here we hike into the Loewen River Gorge, follow its meandering curves to a junction with the Fish River where we  keep our eyes peeled for zebra or oryx antelope enjoying some cool river water.

We are flanked by massive cliffs as we follow the rivers route south, taking time to immerse ourselves in this geological wonder with its unimaginable variety of colours and textures.

A picnic lunch and swim while we take time out to escape the lash of the midday sun, revives us for the ascent to Battlesnake Camp situated on the canyon rim. Here we find our main luggage and the luxury of hot showers with view over the canyon waiting for us.

Sunset from the veranda is something to experience… my words can do it no justice.

A leisurely breakfast starts the day before we make our way down into the canyon along ancient Mountain Zebra paths. Along the way we marvel at KhoiSan rock engravings which resists the peeling fingers of wind and sand, reminding us of the importance of the Fish River for survival in this desert land.

We enjoy serene swimming spots for a quick cool-down on the way to our next camp at Koelkrans, situated between the river and a cool cliff face.

Also at Koelkrans we have the pleasure of hot showers.

Horseshoe Camp with its incredible view from the edge of the canyon derives its name from the gigantic horse shoe shape which the river carved into hard bedrock over millions of years. It is also our destination for today, reached after crossing gravel plains and once again, tracing ancient zebra paths up and out of the canyon.

The view from showers and toilets at Horseshoe Camp is tough to beat and deserves special mention!

Saying goodbye to Horse Shoe Camp is always tough, so we take our time to enjoy breakfast and the view here before we transfer via 4×4 back to Klipspringer Base Camp where we wind down, prepare for an early start tomorrow and re-live the highlights of the past few days  next to our campfire.