Overview–southafrica

Augrabies Falls National Park

The Orange River thunders down the 56m-high Augrabies waterfall before it continues its path through an 18km gorge. An extensive network of boardwalks offers fantastic viewpoints over the waterfall, the focal point of the starkly scenic Augrabies Falls National Park. You can explore further from the falls by car, mountain bike, and even on foot.

Best Time to Visit

The optimal time for a visit to Augrabies Falls National Park is during the cooler winter months from April to September. This is also when the popular three-day Klipspringer Trail is open. Augrabies has a semi-arid climate and the summer months can get incredibly hot. The waterfall is particularly impressive when in flood, usually from February to April.

May to September –Dry Season – Winter

Enjoyable temperatures during daytime
Best time for wildlife viewing
You need to bring warm clothing for activities in the morning or evening
The sky is hazy

October to April –Wet Season – Summer

There are many newborn animals
Excellent birding with migrant birds present
February to April is the best time for seeing the waterfall in full flow
Incredibly high temperatures

Scenery

The diverse scenery of the park attracts many photographers to this remote region. The waterfall itself is an obvious highlight. Other landmarks are Moon Rock, a massive exfoliated dome or whaleback, which can be climbed to get an eagle’s view over the park. Deep gorges and cliffs add interest, and the otherworldly-looking kokerboom or quiver tree is dotted around the landscape.

Excellent

Good

Fair

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May

Jun

Jul

Aug

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Jan

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Nov

Dec

Mar

Oct

Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: April to September (Not too hot)

High Season

From: Never ( Only busy during school holidays)

Size

From: 554km² / 214mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Augrabies Falls is not a prime wildlife destination. Its appeal lies mostly in the waterfall and stunning views. When driving around the park, you’ll have a good chance of spotting giraffes, greater kudus, gemsbok, and springbok. Also keep your eyes peeled for pairs of klipspringers, usually standing motionless like statues on top of a rock.

Wildlife Highlights

One of the most fascinating sights here is the Broadley's flat lizard, which is highly localized around the waterfall, hence its nickname: ‘Augrabies flat lizard’. It’s worth observing them for a while as they perform their acrobatic leaps to catch flies. Also of special interest is the near-endemic Hartmann's Mountain Zebra. More compactly built than the widespread plains zebra, they are well adapted to the rocky environment they live in.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in Augrabies Falls National Park is comparable throughout the year, but the most comfortable time for being out and about is in the cooler months, between April and September. This is also the only time the Klipspringer Trail is open. The waterfall is particularly impressive when in flood, usually from February to April. The summer months (October to April) can be stiflingly hot.

General Wheather

Augrabies Falls National Park is located in a semi-arid region, which implies low annual rainfall and extreme variations of temperature. Occasional thunderstorms occur from October to April. The park’s location in the southern hemisphere means that seasons are experienced at opposite times of the year in North America and Europe.

Dry Season–May to September – Winter

The winter season has no rainfall. The nights tend to be very cold and frost is common. Warm clothing is recommended for evenings and early mornings. Daytime temperatures are pleasant.

May – With average temperatures of 9°C/48°F in the morning and 24°C/75°F in the afternoon, summer comes to its end.
June, July & August – With cold, and even frost, being common, you should bring warm clothes for night and morning activities. Average temperatures range from 5°C/41°F to 22°C/72°F during the daytime.
September – Afternoon temperatures average 26°C/79°F. Mornings become slightly warmer than previous months, at around 9°C/48°F.

Wet Season–October to April – Summer

Extreme heat is prevalent throughout the summer. Regardless of it being the Wet season, the humidity is low. Average daytime temperatures are around 33°C/91°F but can peak at 45°C/113°F and higher. Occasional rain occurs and usually comes in dramatic storms.

October & November – The haziness of the sky disappears with the first summer rains. As the season wears on, rainfall increases, primarily in the form of occasional afternoon showers. Temperatures range between 15°C/59°F in the morning and 32°C/90°F in the afternoon.
December, January & February – This period has the highest temperatures of the year. They often ascend to well over the average 35°C/95°F. Early mornings are lovely with temperatures around 19°C/66°F. Occasional showers clear the air and break the heat.
March & April – The daytime average is around 31°C/88°F, while nights stay warm at 16°C/61°F. Rainfall stops by the end of April, but there can still be an occasional shower before that.

Prons

Spectacular waterfall on the Orange River
Stunning, rugged scenery and great photographic opportunities
Excellent birding, especially raptors
The off-the-beaten-track destination with great wilderness appeal
Three-day Klipspringer hiking trail and short hikes available
Self-guided mountain biking is permitted
Half-day river rafting trips are available
Self-catering accommodation and restaurant

Cons

Not much wildlife present
Far away from South Africa's main tourist attractions
Very hot conditions

How To Get There

If you are traveling to Augrabies Falls National Park, you will most likely start your trip at either O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. Augrabies Falls National Park is situated 902km/560mi from Johannesburg (11 hours’ drive) and 796km/494mi from Cape Town (10 hours’ drive). Augrabies Falls is mostly visited as a self-drive destination, and you can rent a car at whichever airport you fly into. It is also possible to take a connecting flight into Upington Airport (UTN). The 250km/124mi drive from Upington takes 2 to 3 hours*. Most roads in the park are accessible with an ordinary 2WD, but some 4x4 tracks are available too (these must be booked in advance).

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

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