Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Travel Photo Thursday. Fish River Canyon, Namibia:

Welcome to Travel Photo Thursday again. I was chatting to Michael  Figuieredo of Strux Travel about great pics he's posted of Arizona's Grand Canyon and I mentioned Fish River Canyon, Namibia. 
The Fish River Canyon in southern Namibia, is the world's second largest canyon, after Arizona's Grand Canyon. Not as deep, but still very impressive. I had long wanted to see this, but we really didn't have enough time there. Yeah, that's the bummer of being on a tour, but tours do offer great value if you have limited time but need to cover a lot of ground quickly. Cape Town through to Victoria Falls is a looong way.
 So here's a few pictures taken in 2008, on a Sony pocket digital camera. Our return to Africa in 2009, was with a much better camera.



Around 180 kms long and 550 metres deep with a hiking trail for much of it's distance, it is the second most visited site in Namibia. It can get really hot in the canyon itself, often exceeding 45 degrees C, and so is open to hikers only during the cooler winter season - May to September. Restrictions apply to hiking the 3-4 day trail, so check with Ai /Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.



Fish River Canyon from the rim. Taken in August 2008. On our tour from Cape Town to Windhoek/Victoria Falls, we stopped here and we were able to take a short walk along the rim.



 I spent most of my time photographing the desert plant life. This pic above is my favourite photo- a lone flower on the rim contrasting against the dried out twig, with views out over the canyon.



Looks like Fish River may become the third largest canyon in the world-
This from- www.100gogo.com/canyon.
However since 1994, we learned from the American Geography Committee and Guinness Book of World Records that the crown of the "world's largest canyon" went to the Great Canyon of Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River in Himalayas (Tibet).  Its depth reaches 5,382m (17,657 ft) and it has a total length of 496.3km.

More great travel photos are being posted up today. Check them out at Nancie's Budget Traveler's Sandbox . 
And Wait! There's more! 
Nancie has a competition for free stuff this week, get in there!


Share/Bookmark

36 comments:

photos by jan said...

Gorgeous photos, what a beautiful place.

Nancie said...

Wonderful shots Jim. I love that lone flower.

RyukyuMike said...

Terrific scenery you've presented well. Don't expect to see me in that environment any time soon. I'll just enjoy your photos and stay someplace a bit cooler; the jungle !

Keith (Doc) Graff said...

Awesome photos.

Denise said...

I always take my pictures with compact cameras....I really think that good photography is not only about the camera you have, but about how well you can compose a picture and then retouch it a bit back home.

Jim said...

Hi Jan,yes one those very special places. And the hiking through there they say is fantastic.

Jim said...

Hi Nancie, yep that lone desert flower in the desrt. I think there's a song goes something like that.

Jim said...

Hi Mike. those jungles can get pretty hot too. But 45C in low humidity is easier than 40C in high humidity anytime.
As long as there's plenty of water to hand.

Jim said...

Thanks Doc. For a professional like you to say, that's awesome!

Jim said...

Thanks Muza-chan.

Jim said...

So true Denise. And yes, composition and adjusting contrast etc back home does bring out the best. What this first trip showed though, is the need for a good optical zoom to get those good close up wildlife pics.

lakwatsera de primera said...

It was my first time to learn about this place. It would be awesome to do the 3-day hike :)

Sophie said...

I think the Tsangpo Canyon in Tibet is the world's largest canyon. And the Kali Gandaki in Nepal is the deepest - it's like 3 Grand Canyons. Neither is as well marketed as the one in Arizona, I suppose.

I'd like to see more of Namibia and Fish River Canyon has been on my radar for a while, so very interesting this. That little camera took very good photos :)

Laurel said...

Gorgeous, I had no idea the world's 2nd largest canyon was in Namibia.

Sabrina said...

I'm with you, the pic with the flower is my favorite. Very nice canyon! I've only been to the second-largest canyon in the US: Palo Duro Canyon in Texas :)

Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista said...

Beautiful pictures. I love all the contrasting colors!

Jim said...

Hi Claire, would be a cool hike sure, but has to be well planned. Take plenty of water sterilising pills etc.

Jim said...

Yes Sophie, I guess the others are less well known. And how on earth do they measure them? The Tsangpo could be measuered from the adjacent mountain tops so will be way deeper than Fish River as it's almost a chasm in the ground with no mountains.

Had to tweak the contrast in the pics as on a very sunny day the pics looked washed out.
It's a Sony 5x optical which is great as a pocket camera, but now my main one is a Canon SX10IS with 20 x optical for wildlife shots.

Jim said...

Hi Laurel, well could be in Tibet or Nepal yet. I reckon we should go and measure them.

Jim said...

Hi Debbie, that's the thing about Namibia- all the oranges and reds showing up in the rocks and soils. Flecked with mica so in some places the rocks glitter.

Jim said...

Hi Sophie, I think you're right so that very useful bit of info I've edited in. Can't say it really matters which is biggest- it would be good to do a blog article on all 5 of the largest canyons as each is unique and awe inspiring in their own way.

Mari Sterling Wilbur said...

Beautiful! I loved this post since I will only get to see this area of the world through your photos. Can't wait for more posts!!! Armchair travel is a great way to see the world. :D

Jim said...

Just sit back in that armchair Mari and I'll take you around the world. We have been blessed in life and good cecisions have created a lifestyle that allows us to travel. But there are big changes coming up on the horizon which will narrow down future options. Looks like more European based travel in future, but hopefully some side trips on the way there and back. But the days of throwing a dart at a map of the world and going may be over.

InsideJourneys said...

Namibia was never on my list. I'll definitely add it now. Love the colors, so rich and beautiful.
Thanks, your photos are stunning.

cherrysberries said...

Wow, what a stunning and dramatic landscape. I would love to make this visit someday!

Gladys | ByahengBarok.com said...

Great photos. I like the 3rd one the most.

Leigh said...

The Fish River Canyon hike is supposed to be one of the best in the world. Would love to do it.
Made it to Namibia - which I loved - but never got that far south.
Great photos.

Alfandi said...

beautiful, beautiful landscape..

Cathy Sweeney said...

Those are great photos, Jim. I especially like the first one -- beautiful. Such vast open spaces beyond the canyon. I've been to the Grand Canyon in AZ. Now must make my way to Namibia!

Jim said...

Hi InsideJourneys. Put it up top of your list. So much to see and experience there. Allow at least 4 weeks!

Jim said...

You will Cherrys, quite a diverse landscape, deserts, huge red dunes, but way up north you get into the lush country of the Caprivi area.

Leif Harum said...

These are some great pics for just a sony pocket cam. They make me want to go back to the Grand Canyon!

InsideJourneys said...

Hi Jim,
Hope you can find the rickshaw photo and post it. Would love to see it.

Melissa Tandoc said...

Oh this is amazing, I didn't know the world has so many Grand canyons :P...I thought there was only one...

Your images way back then were very good... I could feel the texture... but I would like to see the other Canyons as well.. it would be great deciphering which is which...

Nomadic Samuel said...

Stunning shots Jim! Very impressive :)

Mica said...

Jim these are great images. Bright and colorful, I've been to the Grand Canyon and never even heard of this one.
Your pocketcam took some beautiful shots! The lighting is wonderful.