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The Augrabies Falls National Park, about 100 km north-west of Upington in the Northern Cape, is known for the Augrabies Falls which rank among the world's greatest cascades on a major river.
The Khoi people called it 'Aukoerebis', the place of the Great Noise, referring to the
Orange River thundering its way downwards for 60 metres in a spectacular waterfall.
Picturesque names such as Moon Rock, Ararat and Echo Corner are descriptive of this rocky
region, characterised by the 18 kilometre abyss of the Orange River Gorge and craggy
outcrops dominating scrub-dotted plains. Klipspringer and kokerboom (quiver trees) stand
in stark silhouette against the African sky, silent sentinels in a strangely unique
environment where only those that are able to adapt ultimately survive. The 28 000
hectares on both the northern and southern sides of the Orange River provide sanctuary to
a diversity of species, from the very smallest succulents, birds and reptiles to
springbok, gemsbok and the once-endangered black rhino.
In this region of dramatic contrasts, the massively flowing Orange River surges across a rocky, lunar landscape and suddenly plummets in a torrent of sound and fury into a deep ravine. According to legend, a fortune in diamonds lies at the bottom, washed down the river, but the sheer awe of cascading water provides an effective deterrent to prospecters. The park, created to protect the 56 m high Augrabies Falls and its surroundings, was proclaimed in 1966 and is 15 415 ha in size. At present only a section of the park is open to the public, the rest being set aside for the conservation of the recently introduced black rhino. On game viewing drives, you'll be rewarded by a prolific bird life and a rich variety of plants which have adapted to the arid environment. Kudu, springbok and klipspringer inhabit the reserve, as well as baboons and vervet monkeys
Both Black Stork and Black Eagle breed in the park. Other species of interest that occur include: Pygmy Falcon, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Rosyfaced Lovebird, Namaqua and Blackchested Prinia, Cinnamonbreasted Warbler, Tractrac, Mountain and Karoo Chat, Marico, Chat and Fairy Flycatcher and Great Sparrow. There is also an isolated western population of Doublebanded Sandgrouse in addition to the more common Namaqua Sandgrouse.
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The quiver tree is perfectly adapted to the dry desert
and semi-desert areas on the rocky hills, the extreme temperatures and the infertile soil.
It grows three to five metres high. The tree gets its name from the fact that the Bushmen
(San) used the soft branches to make quivers for their arrows. The eye-catching silhouette
of the quiver tree is typical of the Northern Cape landscape. The trees flower a canary-yellow in the winter. Swarms of birds and locusts are attracted to their copious
nectar and baboons tear the flowers apart to get to the sweet liquor.