Augrabies Falls National Park Travel Guide: Top Sights in South

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Augrabies Falls National Park- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Natural Scenery; South Africa; 5 Reviews

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Suggested Duration: 24 hours

Augrabies Falls National Park, located in South Africa's Northern Cape Province, is a dramatic showcase of nature's raw power and beauty. Covering over 820 square kilometers along the Orange River, the park is renowned for its stunning geological formations and extreme aridity. Established as a conservation area in 1966, it features the awe-inspiring Augrabies Falls, where the Orange River plunges 60 meters into a deep gorge, creating a thunderous spectacle particularly during peak flow. The park's name, derived from the Khoekhoe term "Ankoerebis," meaning "the place of great noise," reflects the powerful sounds of the falls. The park's unique flora includes the iconic quiver tree, or giant tree aloe, which symbolizes survival in the harsh Nama-Karoo and was historically used by the San people for making quivers. Additionally, the Shepherd's tree holds cultural significance for the Khoi and San people. Wildlife thrives in this arid environment, with species such as springbok, gemsbok, and the critically endangered south-central black rhinoceros. Visitors can also spot the elusive Cape clawless otter and the impressive Nile monitor lizard. The park's varied terrain features natural wonders like Moon Rock, offering panoramic views and highlighting the park's geological diversity. Activities such as night drives and hiking trails, including the Dassie and Klipsinger Trails, provide immersive experiences in this extraordinary landscape. Nestled almost equidistant from Cape Town and Johannesburg, an 8 to 10-hour drive from either city, Augrabies Falls National Park provides a compelling destination for those seeking to explore South Africa's rich natural heritage and geological marvels.

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Reviews of Augrabies Falls

Maarten VanderWalt

5
Reviewed: 2024-07-01

Camped for 2 nights and did the Klipspringer hiking trail over 3 days. Camp grounds are spotless. Well maintained. Ablusion blocks are clean and well maintained. Friendy reception and shop stocks most things that you usually forget.
Grant Insley

4
Reviewed: 2024-06-22

This park is not really a big game viewing park, but it is very much a park for spectacular scenery. Also, one of the few parks where you are virtually guaranteed to see the Klipspringer up close, and also a good park to see Raptors. Good facilities, friendly staff, and great park. Not all viewing points were available when we were there due to flood damage. If camping, be careful with food, as baboons and vervet monkeys can be a problem. Worth another star if the viewing points are all open.
Louise Rowan

5
Reviewed: 2024-04-24

Wow! Amazing place to visit. Very quiet when we visited (a weekday in late April) and it felt like we had the park almost to ourselves. The self drive tour on the farthest loop - Quiver Loop - took 4.5 hours at a leisurely pace on a quiet day. The Waterfall is a short walk from the reception, the first platform is on a flat path, the others are a short walk over uneven rocks.
Willi von Borstel

5
Reviewed: 2024-04-09

Camped for two nights in the middle of March. Temperatures reached 42 degrees Celsius! Be prepared to spend lots of time in the pool. Day visitors have their own section with braais and a pool. A drive through the park is well worth the effort as well as going on one of the numerous hiking trails.
Emeralda Els

5
Reviewed: 2024-04-07

What a fantastic experience to finally have visited the place of great noise. Yes, the more rain and heavier the falls, the greater the noise from even a distance away. I was very impressed with how Sanparks are managing the park. From the first security checkpoint at the main gate, to the visitors center at reception. Everything is clean, neat and well maintained. Friendly staff greet visitors as you walk through. Toilets are in good repair and nice and clean. There is a curio shop offering a variety if curios and light snacks and drinks. There is also a restaurant, but we only ordered takeout coffee and tea. The pathways to the falls are well marked and offer a wheelchair friendly option. The viewing decks are safe and provide beautiful views of the falls and gorge. I hope that the parks board will repair the section closed to the public that was damaged in the recent floods. A beautiful place to visit and the small fee is worth every penny!