In 2024, the Fish River Canyon was in the grips of a two year drought. Despite the extreme heat and harsh conditions, it was still a magnificent hike. In the first week of may, the daily temperatures where 24 deg Celsius, with night temperatures seldom dropping below 30 deg Celsius. There were less rock pools available, and those that were in the middle section of the trail were highly mineralized, which, from reports, could induce nausea, diarrhea and even thirst. To minimize the risks and heat associated with the prevailing conditions, hikers preparation had to include information of the location of healthy water and to plan their itinerary accordingly.
