South African National Parks (SANParks) proudly celebrates the 60th anniversary of Augrabies Falls National Park, commemorating six decades of managing one of South Africa’s most spectacular natural landmarks and a landscape rich in cultural heritage, biodiversity, and history.
Known to the Khoikhoi as “Aukoerebis”, meaning the “Place of Great Noise,” the falls have inspired people for thousands of years. Long before the park’s proclamation on 5 August 1966, Stone Age communities settled along the Orange River, drawn by its life-giving waters, while generations of indigenous communities recognised the spiritual and cultural significance of this powerful landscape.
The journey towards proclamation began in 1954 when local conservation advocates petitioned for the falls to become a national park. After more than a decade of determination and perseverance, their vision became reality with the establishment of Augrabies Falls National Park in 1966.
Today, the park conserves an exceptional arid ecosystem that is home to iconic species including klipspringers, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, quiver trees and the endemic Augrabies flat lizard. Its dramatic 56-metre waterfall and 18-kilometre granite gorge continue to captivate visitors while showcasing the immense power of the Orange River.
Over the years, Augrabies has become renowned not only for its breathtaking scenery, but also for the fascinating stories and legends woven into its history. These including the enduring folklore surrounding the mysterious Grootslang said to inhabit the waters below the falls as well as the recorded visit by explorer Hendrik Jakob Wikar in 1778.
As SANParks celebrates this important milestone, we extend sincere appreciation to employees, neighbouring communities, conservation partners, stakeholders, and visitors whose continued support has helped ensure that Augrabies Falls National Park remains one of South Africa’s premier conseareas.
Sixty years after its proclamation, the roar of Augrabies continues to inspire awe, reminding all who visit why this extraordinary landscape deserves to be protected for generations to come.