Augrabies National Park

The Augrabies Waterfall was named in 1799. The name derives from the Nama word "Aukoerebies," which translates to the "Place of Great Noise" – perfectly named after the loud sound of the water rushing through the gorge and cascading down the 56m drop. Adapting to the harsh conditions seems impossible, yet people have lived here for thousands of years, dating back as far as the Early Stone Age. Evidence has been found indicating the development of weapons, working tools, and even primitive graves. Augrabies is home to one of the oldest populations of humans on earth.

Today, the local people are the Nama tribe. Their traditional houses may be seen along the dotted plains and are a testament to their ingenious adaption to the severe climate. The rounded huts, locally called "matjieshuise," which translates to "mat houses," are made from the stems and stalks of local plants. During the summer, they provide much-needed shade, and the gaps allow the wind to pass through. During the winter, the stems expand, filling all the gaps to keep the warmth inside. The Augrabies and its surroundings are where history comes alive, and you can feel yourself being transported to a time lost to modern culture.

Even though the Augrabies is most popular for its spectacular scenic views set among majestic geological formations and the infamous waterfall, many animals call it home. The park is particularly well-known for its birdlife, with over 280 species recorded, and it is set in the breeding grounds of the black stork and Verreaux's black eagle. Other birds include Ludwig's bustard, pygmy falcon, brown-throated martin, the Karoo long-billed lark, African fish eagle, pale chanting goshawk, rosy-faced lovebird, Karoo chat and fairy flycatcher. One can also find an isolated population of the double-banded sand grouse.

Rock hyraxes are common in the area and may be seen lounging on the rock faces during the day. Klipspringers, giraffe, eland, steenbok, springbok, gemsbok, and kudu are amongst the antelope found in the park, and the threatened Hartmann's mountain zebra – the smallest of its kind. One should also be on the lookout for snakes and reptiles, such as the Broadley's flat lizard, which is endemic to the area. At night, when the temperatures drop, the aardwolf, bat-eared fox, African wild cat, spotted genet and black-footed cat come out to hunt. If you are very lucky, you might even see the elusive leopard.

The Nama Karoo biome is the second largest of the South African biomes. Contrary to popular belief, it is a species-rich desert vegetation type of which only 1.5 % is under formal conservation. The Augrabies Falls National Park conservation constitutes 1% of this 1.5%. The scenic views are some of the best in the country: granite boulders lie strewn amongst the open veld, shrub-lands speckled with giant aloes and immense gorges accompanying the shimmering waters of the Orange River make for an incredible sight.

Despite the harsh conditions, various plants have admirably stood up in defiance to the hardships of the Nama Karoo, with nearly 70 species of grass, shrubs, herbs, and trees found in the area. The giant aloe is probably the most renowned; standing up to 5 meters tall, it plays a critical part in the ecosystem, providing vital sugars through its flowers to the various animals and insects during the summer. The camel thorn, sweet thorn, shepherd's tree, and Namaqua fig are also commonly found in the area and construct striking silhouetted figures against the backdrop of the arid environment, which is especially beautiful to behold when the sun sets.