Augrabies

Hendrik Wikar, a Swedish mercenary, was the first European to encounter the falls. He ‘discovered’ Augrabies in October 1778 while wandering toward the Gariep River after facing debt problems and deserting his post in Cape Town in 1775. The resident Khoi people called it “Aukoerebis”, or place of Great Noise, referring to the waterfall thundering its way into the gorge.

The area officially became Augrabies Falls National Park in 1966.

Located on Klaas Island, the park covers 5,403 hectares along the south bank of the Gariep River. Its main highlight, the waterfall and dramatic gorge, can be accessed throughout the year although the water volume is dependent on rainfall in the catchment area.

Situated roughly 20km from Upington and its regional airport (with the longest runway in Africa, which was extended to accept the space shuttle should it be diverted from the US), Augrabies has both on and off site accommodation and offers numerous amazing, desolate location options.