Grünau: Fish River Canyon and the B1 south

You can get to know Grünau for travel planning through two specific connections: the drive to the Fish River Canyon and the B1, which heads south to the border crossing into South Africa. They raise different questions: How much time would you like to allow for a trip to the canyon, and do you want your route to continue south afterwards? These two routes give your stay a clear framework without turning it into a fixed itinerary.

Planning the drive to the Fish River Canyon

The Fish River Canyon is about a two-hour drive from Grünau. This travel time is a guide and may vary depending on the route and conditions. Allow for the drive as a separate block of time when planning your day; this way, you can coordinate your stay in Grünau with your trip to the canyon. If the canyon is one of your main travel plans, compare the approximate travel time with the pace you want for your stay.

Accommodation with a connection to the canyon

Grünau Chalets describes its accommodation as a “base camp” for the Fish River Canyon. Grünau Chalets also offers self-catering chalets and camping beside the Shell petrol station on the B1 in Grünau. Two different types of accommodation are therefore available: self-catering chalets or camping. Which option suits your travel plans depends on your own accommodation requirements. Check current availability directly with the operator.

The B1 heading south

From Grünau, the B1 runs 140 kilometres south to the border crossing into South Africa at Noordoewer, which is open around the clock, and continues towards Cape Town. The 140 kilometres refers to the distance to the border crossing; from there, the route continues towards Cape Town. As border operating details can change, check them before departure. If you are planning to continue south, you can consider the leg to Noordoewer separately from the onward journey.

Karas: landscape, history and a tour

In the wider travel destination of Karas, the Fish River Canyon defines the eastern part of the /Ai-/Ais Hot Springs Game Park. This adds a regional perspective on the canyon to the specific driving connection from Grünau.

The wider travel destination of Karas is also home to Tsau //Khaeb National Park. The Bogenfels rock arch in the park is 55 metres high. Its history is also distinctive: after railway worker Zacharias Lewala discovered a diamond at Kolmanskop near Lüderitz, most of the park remained untouched and closed to the public for almost a century from 1908.

Another option in the wider travel destination of Karas is a day tour from Lüderitz to Pomona Ghost Town and the Bogenfels rock arch, offered by a concession holder. Before making specific plans, check whether the tour is available on your dates and what access arrangements apply. This lets you consider the regional tour as a separate part of your trip, rather than equating it with the drive from Grünau to the Fish River Canyon.

Discover more destinations: Aus, Bethanie, Koës, Lüderitz, Ariamab, Simplon, Karasburg, Beenbreek.

View the wider travel overview: Karas.