Jitske Kroukamp (U124)
“The
desert is the natural extension of the inner silence of the body.”
Dry, desolate, absence of trees, scorching, no shelter, sandy, void of civilization or society…. That is probably not
the best way to describe a journey that excites Jitske. Fish River Canyon. The canyon is situated between the Namib and
Kalahari deserts in Southern Africa and is one of the largest canyons in the
world. It is 161km long, 27km wide, and
the deepest point measures 549m.
Jitske
likes this backpacking journey. In the
photograph, she is with friends, busy with her 20th Fishrivier backpacking
journey.
The
hiking season is in winter, from May to September, after the rainy season
because of the heat. Hikers must be
physically prepared for this challenge and capable of trekking for 4-6 days,
carrying their needs on their backs for 70 – 80 km in extreme weather. Considering there is only one escape route
out of the canyon, a situation could get serious quickly if you are not prepared physically. The entire
hike covers 85 km and can be completed in a disciplined 4 days or a meandering
6 days.
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