Thermal pools
Indoor pools fed by the springs.
Martin Cígler — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Martin Cígler — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bernhard Dunst — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Schnemar — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ragnhild&Neil Crawford from Sweden — CC BY-SA 2.0
Ai-Ais Hot Springs is a resort in the far south of Namibia, in the bed of the Fish River near the end of the famous canyon. In Khoekhoe the name means fire-fire, or scalding hot. An oasis in extremely dry land, it is part of the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. Local legend says a Nama shepherd found the springs in 1850 while rounding up stray sheep. They became a national monument in 1964, a rest camp opened in 1965, the area became a conservation zone in 1969, and the camp was officially opened in 1971. A flood in 1972 destroyed nearly the whole camp, with further floods in 1974 and 1988, and major renovations came in 1987 and 1988. A 2003 treaty brought the area into the transfrontier park with South Africa. The sulphurous water rises from under the riverbed at an average of about 60°C and is piped to indoor pools and jacuzzis. Around the resort stand bare dark mountains and coloured rock, with the Fish River's gravel bed and shallow pools below, and you may spot klipspringers on the rocks. The site lies about 37.1 km from the Fish River Canyon and 161.2 km from Keetmanshoop in a straight line, with much longer gravel roads. Summer heat here is severe, so the cooler months suit better. Carry enough water and fuel, and stay out of the riverbed if rain is forecast, as this place has known destructive floods.
Indoor pools fed by the springs.
Gravel and shallow pools below the mountains.
Coloured rock in dry land.
Ai-Ais Richtersveld Park, southern Namibia
The cooler months, as summer heat is severe here.
Yes, about 37.1 km in a straight line, and many combine the two.