艾-艾斯/理查德斯维德跨境公园(/Ai /Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park)横跨纳米比亚与南非边界,总面积大约5920平方公里。这片广袤的荒原在2003年由两国正式签署协议联合成立,包含了南半球体量巨大的鱼河大峡谷(Fish River Canyon)以及被列入世界文化遗产的理查德斯维德山地沙漠。对于想在非洲南端寻找硬核地质景观的旅行者来说,这里不仅有深达550米的岩层裂痕,还有只能靠四驱车进入的乱石秘境。说到地貌的独特性,全世界很难再找到第二个能把剧烈切割的峡谷、冒着热气的温泉和古老的多肉植物森林揉合在一起的地方。
位于纳米比亚境内的鱼河大峡谷是公园的招牌,它的长度将近160公里,最宽处可达27公里。如果你只是想从高处俯瞰,霍巴斯(Hobas)附近的几个观景点就能让你感受到地球表面被生生撕裂的震撼感。但这深达500多米的谷底有着更致命的吸引力。很多人不知道的是,这里的长途徒步有着极其严格的时间限制和身体要求。徒步路线只在每年的5月1日至9月15日开放,因为其他月份的高温足以让体力和水分在几个小时内迅速耗竭。
如果你打算申请这段大约85到90公里的五天徒步路线,必须提前至少三个月向纳米比亚野生动物度假村管理部门(NWR)预约,而且还要出示30天内由医生签字的健康证明。每天被允许进入峡谷的名额非常有限,通常不到30人。谷底没有现成的营地,你得背着所有的食物、睡袋和净水设备在这片史前荒原中自行寻找落脚点。这种完全脱离现代文明的孤独感是很多资深徒步者即便腿部酸痛到发抖也要坚持走完的原因。如果你体力一般,直接开车去艾-艾斯(Ai-Ais)的热泉营地泡个澡也是个聪明的选择,那里的温泉富含矿物质,水温常年维持在60度左右,即便是在冬天也能让人彻底放松下来。
穿过奥兰治河(Orange River)进入南非一侧,地貌会从宏大的峡谷转变为光怪陆离的山地沙漠。这部分区域在2007年被联合国教科文组织列入世界遗产名录,核心价值在于当地纳马人(Nama)保留了数千年的半游牧生活方式。理查德斯维德的土质极其贫瘠,但却生长着世界上密度最高的多肉植物。最出名的要数拟态植物半人木(Halfmens),这种植物远远看去就像一个个略显佝偻的小人,顶端长着一撮绿叶。纳马人的传说里,那是那些被驱逐的人在思念故乡时化作的石柱。
在理查德斯维德自驾完全是另一场挑战。这里的路况基本由碎石、深沙和河床组成,普通轿车根本进不去。即便你开着高底盘的四驱车,平均时速也很难超过20公里。如果你选择在迪普德里夫(De Hoop)或者波特吉斯皮尔(Potjiespram)露营,早晨醒来可能会发现帐篷外只有你一个人的足迹。这种极度的静谧伴随着奥兰治河两岸偶尔出现的绿色植被,形成了一种残酷与生命力共存的视觉张力。去之前记得检查备胎,因为在那些锋利的火山岩面前,轮胎随时可能罢工。
既然叫跨境公园,从纳米比亚直接进入南非是很多人关心的事。两国之间有一处非常特殊的口岸叫森德林斯德里夫(Sendelingsdrif),那里并没有桥,车辆需要靠摆渡船跨过奥兰治河。这艘渡船的运行完全看老天爷的脸色,如果河水流量太大或者水位太低,渡船就会停运,那时候你只能绕行几百公里去走普通的公路口岸。建议出发前先打电话确认渡船是否还在干活,这样能省掉不少冤枉路。
钱的问题也得算清楚。公园的门票费在纳米比亚和南非两边是分开计算的,每人每天大约在150到200当地货币(NAD/ZAR)之间,车辆还需要额外缴纳一笔费用。园内基本没有网络覆盖,除了几个大型营地外,几乎找不到可以买东西的地方。这意味着你需要带够所有的饮用水、燃料和备品。尤其是在冬季,虽然白天气温可能在25度上下,但晚上温度会骤降到零度附近,睡袋的保暖等级如果不够,那滋味可不好受。
如果你只去纳米比亚境内的鱼河大峡谷观景点和艾-艾斯温泉,普通两驱轿车在干季勉强可以胜任,但舒适度很低。如果你计划深入理查德斯维德部分或者从森德林斯德里夫过境,四驱车是硬性要求,因为那里的深沙和尖利碎石路况极其复杂,底盘过低会导致车辆底壳受损。
建议至少提前3到6个月通过纳米比亚野生动物度假村(NWR)官网预约。每年5月到9月的名额竞争非常激烈,尤其是6月和7月。你需要支付每人约500纳米比亚元的徒步费,这还没算入园费和必须强制购买的救援保险。12岁以下的孩子是不被允许参加这项长途徒步的。
是的,森德林斯德里夫虽然是公园内部口岸,但依然是正式的国际边界。你必须持有纳米比亚和南非两国的有效签证(如果你的护照不在免签范围内)。过境时会有完整的边检和海关流程,由于使用了摆渡船,单程过河费大约在200兰特左右,且渡船通常只在早晨8点到下午4点半之间运行。
5月到9月是游玩的黄金时间。这段时间白天气温宜人,大约在20到28摄氏度之间,非常适合户外活动和拍照。10月以后气温会迅速飙升,12月到次年2月大峡谷内部的气温甚至能突破45摄氏度,很多营地会因为极端高温而减少活动项目。
Johann Rawlinson Many years ago, I hiked the Fishriver Canyon with family and friends, a grueling 7 days. AiAis camp was the endpoint of our hike. We stayed over for 2 days to "recover"where we we left our cars before tackling the hike and returned home. This was when Namibia was still South West which was under UN resolution, administered by South Africa
Johann Rawlinson Many years ago, I hiked the Fishriver Canyon with family and friends, a grueling 7 days. AiAis camp was the endpoint of our hike. We stayed over for 2 days to "recover"where we we left our cars before tackling the hike and returned home. This was when Namibia was still South West which was under UN resolution, administered by South Africa
Lilani Radley Went camping at De Hoop - what an experiece! Watch out for the monkeys though. Bathrooms were clean, hot water late afternoon. Campsite were clean and safe.
Lilani Radley Went camping at De Hoop - what an experiece! Watch out for the monkeys though. Bathrooms were clean, hot water late afternoon. Campsite were clean and safe.
Tanya Nel Absolutely beautiful park but no hides on the day drive meaning no bathroom stops. The day drive takes 3-4 hours and is very scenic but a 4x4 or at least a bakkie is highly recommended. You drive up the mountains and some places the terrain is very rough.
Tanya Nel Absolutely beautiful park but no hides on the day drive meaning no bathroom stops. The day drive takes 3-4 hours and is very scenic but a 4x4 or at least a bakkie is highly recommended. You drive up the mountains and some places the terrain is very rough.
abdul ebrahim It's not worth the drive. The hot spring is nothing to write home about, in fact it's the least interesting thing there. The place has 2 swimming pools and a nice bar & restaurant area, but you can get this in many closer or more interesting places. The staff were friendly and helpful. There is a petrol station and tyre repair facility. I would not recommend making a special trip here, rather a pass by on the way elsewhere.
abdul ebrahim It's not worth the drive. The hot spring is nothing to write home about, in fact it's the least interesting thing there. The place has 2 swimming pools and a nice bar & restaurant area, but you can get this in many closer or more interesting places. The staff were friendly and helpful. There is a petrol station and tyre repair facility. I would not recommend making a special trip here, rather a pass by on the way elsewhere.