Scenic Hiking and Natural Beauty on the Naukluft Olive Trail

A beautiful hike through the canyon. You buy the entrance ticket at the reception, which isn't necessarily on the trail. You might have to take a small detour. From the parking lot, the trail climbs about 250 meters and then descends again into the canyon. The map you receive when buying the ticket is hand-drawn and therefore almost useless. Basically, you just need to remember: the first third is uphill, the second is in the canyon, and the third is through somewhat more open terrain. Regarding those with a fear of heights and the section at the end of the canyon: We were told at the reception that it's best not to walk the trail backward the first time. While it is very well marked, you would have to keep turning around. I thought it would have been possible going backward, but I'm glad we did it clockwise. The "climbing" section is a pool in the rock, 7 meters long and 3 meters wide. The water level was very low when we were there, so our feet were about 2 meters above the water. The chains on both sides allow you to choose which side to use. You can't use both at the same time because they're too far apart. We chose the right side. You could rest your feet on small ledges. You only really needed to lean into the chain for one step. All in all, even people with a fear of heights can manage this section. I recommend doing the walk in the morning. We started around 10 or 11 a.m., and the midday heat was already quite unpleasant. However, this also meant we didn't encounter another soul on the entire walk. The first photo is taken from the direction we were walking. On the right, you can (barely) see the metal chain for the described path. It looks higher in the photo than it actually is. The second, brighter photo was taken afterward. The wall above the water basin is about 2 meters high.

Beautiful hike, best done when it's not too hot. 1-hour ascent. Some sections require attention. Walking isn't always easy in the riverbed midway through. Lovely atmosphere. The chain crossing is manageable, although a couple of meters are a bit tricky; you need to hold onto the chains as there are few footholds. 4 hours total, average fitness level.

Great destination! Enjoyed the open trail and peaceful outdoor atmosphere.

Nice trail that isn't too difficult. The section with the chains is fun and I think perfectly doable for most people who are reasonably fit. If you look around carefully, you can also spot some wildlife; we saw springboks and a little owl.

A beautiful hike over hills and through valleys. At a leisurely pace, it took us about 4-5 hours, starting at 10:00 AM. The terrain was quite rocky in places, so good footwear was essential. We found the often-mentioned section with the iron chain relatively straightforward.