The Fish River Canyon is second only in grandeur to the Grand Canyon in the USA. It is without question magnificent and breathtaking in its immensity. The canyon is 160 twisting kilometeres of a kaleidoscope of purples, greys and pinks, formed over hundreds of millions of years. The canyon drops vertically by 1,800ft (550m) out of a flat arid plateau and at some places it is 17 miles (27km) wide!

The enormous gorge meanders along a distance of approximately 160 kilometres through the fissured Koubis massif all the way down to Ai-Ais.

According to the San Bushmen the twists and curves were carved by the serpent, Kouteign Kooru, in an attempt to escape capture. However, geologists say it was initially created by a fracture in the earth's crust 500 million years ago. Erosion and the action of glaciers then further deepened the canyon.