From Hobas you drive 65 kilometres south on the C37, with the last stretch on the C10. All of it is gravel. Coming straight from the main viewpoint adds about 14 kilometres. Allow a little over an hour of driving, which matches what one guidebook says. At the end the road descends into the valley to the hot springs.
Ai-Ais is run by the state-owned NWR and lies in the valley of the Fish River. Floods hit the resort in 1972, 1988 and 2000 among other years, and in January 2021 a flash flood damaged the resort and campsite. After the high water of 2026, NWR announced on 25 June that Ai-Ais was fully open again.
Arrive with a full tank. The NWR fuel station at Ai-Ais had supply failures in 2025, and NWR itself named Keetmanshoop and Karasburg as the nearest alternatives. The resort is the best place to ask how things stand in 2026.
Our tipThis is a short stage. Take one more look into the canyon in the morning and plan the afternoon in the warm water.
The route at a glance
- Roads
- C37, C10
- Distance
- 65 km
- Surface
- about 0 km tar, 65 km gravel
- Driving time
- 1 to 1.5 hours
Distances and times as of October 2026, driving time without stops or detours.
Routes that use this stage
Fish River Canyon to Ai-Ais: frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Fish River Canyon to Ai-Ais?
Hobas at Fish River Canyon to Ai-Ais is 65 kilometres on the C37 and, at the end, the C10. Allow a little over an hour of actual driving, plus about 14 kilometres if you start at the main viewpoint.
Is the road from Hobas to Ai-Ais tarred?
The road from Hobas to Ai-Ais is gravel all the way, on the C37 and the final stretch of the C10.
Can I get fuel at Ai-Ais?
The NWR fuel station at Ai-Ais had supply failures in 2025. Fill up in Keetmanshoop beforehand; NWR names Keetmanshoop and Karasburg as alternatives.
Is Ai-Ais open after the 2026 floods?
After the high water of the Fish River in 2026, the state-owned NWR announced on 25 June 2026 that the Ai-Ais resort was fully open again.