Spectacular Desert Mountain Scenery
Southern Namibia, Namibia
The Ai Ais Park is on Namibia’s southern border with South Africa, it is a cross border park which includes Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The Ai Ais Hot Springs Resort is located at the end of Fish River Canyon. It’s thermal waters are rich in sulphates and fluorides, with an average temperature of approx 60 degrees centigrade, they are enjoyed by both hikers and tourists as well as people suffering from rheumatism.
The area suffers extremely high temperatures during the Namibian summer months (November to February) as heat collects in the narrow gorge and care should be taken if travelling at this time of year, and some accommodation in the area may be closed.
Background
This 5,900 km² nature conservation area was officially launched by the governments of Namibia and South Africa in August 2003. With Ai-Ais Game Park, Fish River Canyon and the little known and almost inaccessible Hunsberg Nature Reserve, Namibia contributed almost three quarters of the Transfrontier Park.
The park spans some of the most spectacular arid and desert mountain scenery in southern Africa. It also features the world’s second largest canyon – the Fish River Canyon. The 350 million year old and erosion-rich Orange River gorge abounds with history, folklore and grandeur and the Richtersveld is one of the last regions where the Nama people’s traditional lifestyle based on nomadic pastoralism has been preserved.