Food for your hike

Food food glorious food never enough to lighten the mood.

When getting ready to take on the challenging hike through Namibia's Fish River Canyon, strategic meal planning can significantly enhance your experience.
Here’s a guide focused on lightweight dried and easy to make meals, along with essential snacks and luxury items to keep your spirits high and your body nourished along the Fish River Canyon hiking trail. 

Lightweight and instant meals
Dried meals are ideal for backpacking adventures due to their lightweight nature and ease of preparation. Consider the following options when packing food for your expedition.
Dehydrated Backpacking Meals: Choose from a variety of options such as pasta dishes, rice meals with curry, or dehydrated stews that only require hot water to rehydrate.
Instant Noodles: Quick and easy to prepare, providing carbohydrates and some protein. Look for options that are low in sodium.
Freeze Dried Meals: These retain nutrients well and are lightweight. Options include freeze dried fruits for snacks and main meals that you just need to add water to. 

Essential Snacks
Keep your energy levels stable throughout the day with nutrient packed snacks:
Trail Mix: You can create your own or buy a mix that includes nuts, seeds and some dried fruit.
Energy Bars: Look for bars that are high in protein and fibre, with ingredients like oats, nuts, and dried fruits.
Biltong: Provides protein and can satisfy savoury cravings. Opt for varieties without added sugars or excess salt.  

Luxury Items for Comfort
You can include a few treats to lift your spirits as well as provide extra nutrients
Dark Chocolate: A small piece of dark chocolate can provide a morale boost as well as a much needed dose of antioxidants.
Dried Fruit: Apricots, figs, or mango slices provide natural sweetness and essential vitamins.  

Hydration
Staying hydrated is absolutely imperative when taking on a trek like the Fish River Canyon. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, muscle cramps, and even more serious complications.
Water: Make sure to carry enough water in a reusable water bottle or hydration sack.
Plan to refill at designated spots along the trail.
Electrolyte sachets: Add these to your water to replace lost salts and minerals, especially important in hot climates.  

Packing Tips
Portion Control: Pre-portion your meals and snacks into individual servings to avoid carrying unnecessary weight.
Packaging: Use lightweight, waterproof, and resealable bags or containers to store food items securely and keep them fresh.
Leave No Trace: Dispose of food waste properly and follow Leave No Trace principles to preserve the pristine environment of the Fish River Canyo.

With careful planning and packing, you will have the nourishment and in turn energy necessary to conquer the awe-inspiring trails while also enjoying the marvels of one of Southern Africa’s most remarkable natural wonders. 

Essential Information for hiking Fish River Canyon

Permits and prices

Hiking permit  N$535 per person.

National Park Fees 
Namibian Citizens: N$50 pp per day
SADC Nationals: N$100 pp per day
Foreign Nationals: N$150 pp per day
How to book

Booking the Fish River hike You can email (booking for link here) to book through Madbookings.com or the NWR office in Cape Town (email here).

Hiking route details

Depending on your fitness levels you can hike the Fish River Canyon in 4, 5, or 6 days. The normal practice is to take 5 days - 4 nights sleeping in the canyon with the 5th night at Ai Ais Resort.

Gear for the hike What do you need?

All your gear should be worn in and comfortable, you will need a backpack, water bottle, camping stove, camping pan, food, snacks, torch, sleeping mat, first aid, water filter/tablets, matches/lighter, cutlery, bowl, sleeping bag, hiking boots, socks, clothes, hat, sunglasses, towel, toilet paper, toothbrush, personal medication, camera/phone, spares and repairs, small shovel. That covers the basics!

What to Pack

Lightweight camping food, water, cooking gear, first aid, sleeping mat, clothing, torch, toiletries, water filtre/tablets.

How to pack

Pack light and pack smart, there is an art to packing a backpack to carry on a 5 day trail.

Food on the hike

Dried pre-prepared meals are the way to go, snacks and a couple of luxury items to keep nutirents and spirits up on the hike, dont take tins.

Fitness preperation

The Fish River Hike is not technically difficult but quite physically challenging so a good level of fitness and being accustomed to walking with a loaded backpack are essential. When did you last walk 18km?

Tips and tricks

Preperation is everything, pack smart not heavy, weather yourself before the hike, break in boots and backpack MONTHS before the hike, dont take new untested equipment, test trail meals in advance so you can take only your favourites!

Getting to Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon is in the South Of Namibia and can be accessed by road in a normal sedan car either from Windhoek or South Africa.

Where to stay

There are 5 places to stay close to the Fish River Canyon: Hobas, best for start of hike (chalets and camping). Ai Ais, where hike ends (rooms chalets and camping), Canyon Village for a little more comfort (rooms), Canyon Lodge for more luxury (chalets) and Canyon Roadhouse for some of the best food in the area (rooms and camping). Further away is Grunau (65km) which has a selection of places to stay.

When to Hike Fish River Canyon

The Fish River hike is only open from 1st May to 14th September each year.

Satellite phones

There is no cell phone reception in the Fish River canyon so some people may wish to take a Satellite phone for emergencies.

Insurance

Normal travel and household insurance does NOT cover ther Fish River Canyon Hike because it is considered too extreme should you need to be rescued it is nnormally via helicopter to the nearest hospital so very expensive. SATIB offer special insurance for this hike.