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Augrabies Falls National Park

The Gariep winds its way through mountainous and gravelly terrain, before dropping 70 m into a deep gorge at the Augrabies Falls. The gorge continues for 12 km before the terrain levels out again. The park protects both the spectacular scenery along the river, as well as a stretch of wild habitat that would be promptly swamped under agriculture. The granite cliffs are awe-inspiring, and are overshadowed only by the Gariep as it crashes thunderously into the abyss.

Animals are quite tame and approachable, even on foot. Rock hyraxes and klipspringer, ground squirrels and colourful lizards abound in the granite domes that characterise the park. They tread where humans dare not go - the gorge had indeed swallowed many lives in the years before security rails were installed.

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An agama peeps from behind a rock
An agama peeps from behind a rock		 Quiver tree branches were hollowed out to carry the arrows of bushmen
Quiver tree branches were hollowed out to carry the arrows of bushmen		 A long exposure after sunset
A long exposure after sunset		 A long exposure after sunset hides the force with which the Gariep plummets to beneath
A long exposure after sunset hides the force with which the Gariep plummets to beneath		 Weird and wonderful formations have been sculpted by the elements at Augrabies
Weird and wonderful formations have been sculpted by the elements at Augrabies
Nooks and crannies shelter plants and animals
Nooks and crannies shelter plants and animals		 Grass tufts blow about in the evening wind
Grass tufts blow about in the evening wind		 Immense granite domes slowly peel of in layered rock sheets
Immense granite domes slowly peel of in layered rock sheets		 A lark blissfully unaware of a grass seed taking a free ride
A lark blissfully unaware of a grass seed taking a free ride		 When conditions are just right, the desert comes to life
When conditions are just right, the desert comes to life
The namaqua sand grouse male carries water to its young
The namaqua sand grouse male carries water to its young		 Klipspringer form monogamous pairs
Klipspringer form monogamous pairs		 Venison in unison (well, almost)
Venison in unison (well, almost)		 With human-like feet and hands, rock hyraxes can grip like the proverbial tyre
With human-like feet and hands, rock hyraxes can grip like the proverbial tyre		 Rock hyraxes are very social animals
Rock hyraxes are very social animals
Hyraxes have no close relatives, the closest supposedly being the elephant
Hyraxes have no close relatives, the closest supposedly being the elephant		 Conserving energy
Conserving energy		 Close encounters - no interest
Close encounters - no interest		 Last rays at sunset light up grass tufts
Last rays at sunset light up grass tufts		 A particularly beautiful quiver tree
A particularly beautiful quiver tree
Only a matter of time
Only a matter of time		 The magic mushroom at Oranjekom
The magic mushroom at Oranjekom		 The magic mushroom at Oranjekom
The magic mushroom at Oranjekom		 Portal of light
Portal of light		 Morning rays shine through a small arch to set these grasses on fire
Morning rays shine through a small arch to set these grasses on fire
The burning bush
The burning bush		 Male klipspringer have prominent facial glands to mark their territory
Male klipspringer have prominent facial glands to mark their territory		 The pygmy falcon is the size of a starling
The pygmy falcon is the size of a starling		 A cape wagtail finishes off a grashopper
A cape wagtail finishes off a grashopper		 The ground squirrel deftly uses its tail as a sunshade
The ground squirrel deftly uses its tail as a sunshade
Ground squirrels are as adroit as their northern cousins
Ground squirrels are as adroit as their northern cousins		 A visitor marvels at the Augrabies falls
A visitor marvels at the Augrabies falls		 An old quiver tree cradles a sociable weaver nest
An old quiver tree cradles a sociable weaver nest		 Before sunrise, the sky takes on a magical hue
Before sunrise, the sky takes on a magical hue		 Again at sunset, the sky is alive with colours
Again at sunset, the sky is alive with colours
A reminder of unforgiving seasons in the past
A reminder of unforgiving seasons in the past		 Granite outcrops create a lunar landscape
Granite outcrops create a lunar landscape		 The rainbow in the mist spray of the falls is reflected in a male rock lizard
The rainbow in the mist spray of the falls is reflected in a male rock lizard		 The sheer walls of the Augrabies gorge
The sheer walls of the Augrabies gorge		 A venerable old quiver tree has seen off bad years to find renewed vigour
A venerable old quiver tree has seen off bad years to find renewed vigour
Stone age tools shaped from river rocks can be found far from the river
Stone age tools shaped from river rocks can be found far from the river

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