Ai-Ais

Ai-Ais, also written ǀAi-ǀAis, lies at the southern end of the Fish River Canyon in the riverbed, surrounded by the mountains of the Great Karas range. It is run by NWR, the state resort company. If you come in from South Africa via Noordoewer, this is often your first night in Namibia. The border is 121 kilometres away, about 80 of them gravel, and Hobas at the top of the canyon 65.

average spring temperature

about 60 °C

resort opened

1971

to the Noordoewer border

121 km

to Hobas at the canyon

65 km

The name comes from Khoekhoe and means roughly scalding hot. Legend has it that a Nama shepherd found the springs in 1850 while looking for stray sheep. During the Nama uprising of 1903 to 1907 German troops camped here, and in 1915 wounded South African soldiers recovered by the warm water.

The spring water is very hot. Wikipedia gives an average of about 60 °C, the 2005 travelogue on this site up to 65 °C. So do not put your hand in at the source. You bathe in the resort pools, indoors and outdoors, and there is also a spa, a restaurant, a shop and a filling station.

You sleep in rooms with mountain or river views, in family chalets or at the campsite. Ai-Ais is not in the accommodation feed, so book directly with NWR, by email in October 2026 because online booking was down. A room with breakfast costs N$ 1,360 to 2,280 per person depending on category and season, a campsite N$ 390 per person, as of October 2026.

Being in the riverbed comes at a price. Only a year after the resort opened in 1971, a flood destroyed every building except one that stood higher up. In 1974 and 1988 the camp had to close again. If you stay here in the southern summer, which is the rainy season, check with NWR before you set off.

Across the border to Ai-Ais

From Springbok in South Africa, take the N7 to the border at Vioolsdrif and Noordoewer. From there it is 39 kilometres north on the B1, then west on the C10 down into the valley. In a hire car you need a cross-border permit from the rental company, and German citizens, among others, have needed a visa for Namibia since April 2025.

The resort filling station ran out of fuel several times in 2025, and NWR pointed travellers to Keetmanshoop and Karasburg. If you are coming from South Africa, fill up before the border.

Today, as of The water has come back since 2005. On 11 January 2021 a flash flood damaged the resort and campsite, and NWR closed it, planning to reopen on 1 May 2021. In June 2026 heavy rain flooded the grounds again. On 24 June NWR reported that the pump was under water and there was no hot water, while rooms, the restaurant and camping on higher ground stayed open. A day later the resort was fully running again. And since 1 April 2026 the park has cost N$ 280 per foreign adult per day instead of 150.

Time needed

one night, best after arriving from South Africa or after the canyon hike

From Windhoek

712 km, 560 minutes

Our tipCross the border from South Africa early, and you have the afternoon for the pools. Drive to the canyon's main viewpoint the next morning, since Hobas is on your way north anyway.