Just across the South African border going into Namibia, there is the Fish River Canyon. Not to be confused with the Fish River in the Eastern Cape, over thousands of years this river has formed the second largest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon in the United States.
If you are quite fit and want to do something out of the ordinary it is possible to hike a portion of the canyon. The hike measures 85km in length, and with the canyon being up to 500m deep, it will take five days to make the long haul from the Lookout Point near Hobas to the end-point at Ais Ais where the hot springs (and cold beers) are a welcome sight.
My pack weighed in at fifteen kilograms and I had a two-litre water bottle which I alternately hung from the side or carried. Not really knowing what I might need, I ended up packing too much clothing, but by the second day each person stinks as much as the next so changing clothes every day is a fool’s game. My advice – take as little clothing as possible and swim in the river often. Clean (and dry) socks are a good idea, and even though my boots were already well worn-in before the hike, I ended up with nine blisters!
Because of the high temperatures and possible flooding, and in order to preserve the fragile ecosystem, the Park limits the number of people allowed in the canyon. The last I heard only thirty people were allowed in the canyon at any one time. The route is open from May to September and is booked up many months in advance so it is a good idea to plan your trip far ahead.