Namibia kicks off the hiking season

Hiking fans in Namibia and South Africa have reason to rejoice: tomorrow marks the official start of the hiking season in Namibia. The starting signal is given with the opening of the challenging ‘Naukluft Hiking Trail’. The neighbouring hiking paradise on BüllsPort with its network of 14 trails has been open since 1 February.

The ‘Naukluft Hiking Trail’ consists of a 120 km long circular route with very simple self-catering huts for overnight stays. It leads through the former Naukluft Mountain Zebra Park, which was merged with the Namib Park in 1979 to form today’s Namib-Naukluft Park (see report ‘Namibia’s largest National Park turns 40’).

Naukluft is one of the most challenging hiking areas

The ‘Naukluft Hiking Trail’ is considered one of the most challenging hiking trails in Namibia. Not only because of its length. But also because of the total difference in altitude that has to be overcome. At particularly steep points, chains are anchored in the rock so that you can work your way up.

As here at the end of the ‘Naukluft Olive Trail’, chains anchored in the rock help hikers to master tricky passages also on the ‘Naukluft Hiking Trail’. Photo (archive): Anke Gruhnert

Narrow gorges lead up to plateaus. Gently rising slopes end at steep rock faces. Year-round bubbling springs fill rock pools where you can cool off.

The full 120 km of the ‘Naukluft Hiking Trail’ takes eight days to complete. It can also be shortened to four days. The route of the first four days is considered moderately difficult, the route of the remaining four days more difficult. Experience reports with photos can be found on the Facebook group ‘I hiked the Naukluft Hiking Trail’.

You have to book the trail in advance – with the state accommodation operator Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR). It is open from 1 March to 31 October. From the beginning of November to the end of February, it warms up too early in the day and cools down too late to be able to cover the day’s distances.

There are also two shorter hiking trails in the Naukluft Park: the ‘Naukluft Waterkloof Trail’ (17 km) and the ‘Naukluft Olive Trail’ (10 km). They are open to hikers all year round.

Neighbouring hiking paradise in BüllsPort’s private nature reserve

Quiver trees greet hikers on the Quiver Tree Gorge Trail in the private nature reserve of BüllsPort Lodge & Farm in the NAUkLuFT. Photo: Sven-Eric Stender

To the north-east, the Naukluft Park borders directly on the private nature reserve of BüllsPort Lodge & Farm. With its network of 14 hiking trails, BüllsPort is a true hiker’s paradise. You find everything from a one-hour walk to a challenging day hike.

The most famous is the Quiver Tree Gorge Trail, which you can hike on your own with or without a drive to the Naukluft Plateau. Another highlight for those with a head for heights is the ‘Rock Arch Trail” to the massive Bogenfels of the NAUkLuFT.

An overview of the hiking trails with brief descriptions can be found on the ‘Hiking’ page in the ‘Experiences’ section.

The BüllsPort guest centre is open from the beginning of February to the end of November. The lodge and campsite are only about 20 kilometres from the entrance to the Naukluft Park. They can therefore also be used as a base for a hike on the Waterkloof Trail or the Olive Trail.

Multi-day hike in the Fish River Canyon

Rest at one of the water scour along the ‘Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail’ in the Fish River Canyon in southern Namibia. Photo (May 2024): private

The ‘Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail’ enjoys cult status among hiking fans in Namibia and South Africa. It is around 85 kilometres long and leads from ‘Hiker’s Point’ near the Hobas state rest camp to |Ai |Ais.

This trail must also be booked in advance. In addition, you can only do it in groups of at least three people. The Fish River Canyon Hiking Trail is open from 1 May to 15 September.