The Place of Great Noise – Augrabies Falls

Aptly named ‘Aukoerebis’, the place of the Great Noise, by the local Khoi people the 60 meters high Augrabies Falls is a spectacular sight, whether the river is in flood, or simply a trickle of water running down. At almost 1000 kilometres from either Cape Town or Johannesburg, the falls is not really a ‘quick’ visit, but is it worth it?

Relief from the long, straight, and uneventful road through the Northern Cape of South Africa is offered by towns with names worthy of t-shirt logos such as Kakamas, Keimoes and Pofadder. The towns in this region are kept alive by mining and farming, and as such, the rush you will feel daily in the city feels far away. These towns also provide almost religious relief to travellers in the form of ‘Padstals’ or Farm Stalls.

A must visit farm stall en route to Augrabies is the Pienk Padstal in Kakamas. This farm stall serves as a restaurant, coffee shop and general dealer to travellers. It is located on the N14 before you enter the town and cannot be missed. The whole building is painted bright pink, giving meaning to the name ‘Pienk Padstal’. Stock up on dried fruit, curios and some cold drinks before continuing onwards to the falls.

The campsite at Augrabies forms part of the Augrabies Falls National park which is managed by SANPARKS, South Africa’s National Parks Authority. For up to date pricing on accommodation visit the SANPARKS website.

The green belt along the Orange River ensures that the campsites are well shaded by large Willows and other trees which provides much-needed relief from the scorching hot Northern Cape sun. The park has a well-stocked shop and visitor centre where guests can learn more about the region. The ablutions at the campsites are clean and well maintained with hot showers every evening. There is also a small pool near the camp to take a dip during the day.

The falls itself is magical. During the rainy season, the thunderous sound of the water gushing down is captivating with excellent photography opportunities during the late afternoon. A well-maintained walkway built on the cliffs surrounding the falls allows you to get up close and peer into the turbulent depths below. When camping, you have the falls to yourself for a few hours after the day visitors have left to enjoy some picturesque sundowners.

The falls itself is also not the only attraction to the National Park. A wide variety of plant, bird and animal life unique to this region can be spotted. Look out for ‘Kokerbome’ or Quiver Trees, some of which are more than 200 years old in the park. It is also worthwhile to visit other geological attractions in the park such as Ararat and Moonrock. These attractions can be reached with a sedan, but 4×4 tracks are available for the more adventurous. There are also a number of Geocaches in the park that will keep you exploring.

Some tips when planning your trip to Augrabies Falls National Park:

• Use the ATM at the ‘Pienk Padstal’ to get cash as cards are not used everywhere in the region.
• Watch out for baboons and monkeys at the camp, they open crates and cooler boxes to steal food. Rather lock your food in the car.
• Wear sunscreen and a hat at all times, even during the winter, the sun is merciless in this region.