“Sesriem” means “six straps” and comes from the Afrikaans words “ses riem.” According to stories, early settlers stopped here to get water. They could not take their animals down into the canyon, so they had to bring water up for them. To do this, they tied six leather straps from ox carts to buckets and lowered them into the river from above.
For visitors going to Sossusvlei, the question often comes up—Is it worth visiting Sesriem Canyon? It means driving an extra 4 kilometers on a very bumpy road that feels like a washboard. I usually take my guests there after we visit Sossusvlei.
The Fish River Canyon, located in the south of Namibia, is much bigger and more impressive. But Sesriem Canyon has one thing that Fish River often doesn’t—shade, which is very welcome in the heat.
Sesriem Canyon feels very different from the dry, sunny dunes of Sossusvlei. After climbing down the narrow path, your first view of the canyon gives you a nice break from the heat.
You do not need any climbing gear, but don’t expect an easy walk either. Sometimes you may want a helping hand. But that’s part of the adventure.
Once you reach the riverbed, you have two choices—go left or right. If you have enough time, turn right. The canyon slowly becomes wider and less deep. If you go left, the canyon stays narrow and gives more of that real canyon feeling.
That path ends in a dead end after a few hundred meters. At the end, you can crawl over some rocks into a small cave. There is usually a pool of water there. It’s not the best place for swimming, but many desert animals depend on this water to survive.
As you walk through the canyon, you will often see birds flying above. Don’t worry—they are not dangerous. Most of them are pigeons that build their nests in the cliffs. You may also spot lizards and bugs.
Snakes live in the area too, but they are harder to see. Baboons are easier to spot. They sometimes come into the canyon to find shade or drink water. When the canyon is empty, animals like oryx and springbok may also walk by.
Other animals in the area include jackals, hyenas, cheetahs, ostriches, scorpions, and more. If you’re lucky, you might see one or two of them enter the canyon.
