Spectacular photos of Augrabies Falls in flood

“Place of Great Noise” lives up to its name

By John Yeld

11 February 2021

Visitors on a viewing platform take pictures of the mighty Orange (Gariep) River in full flood as it plunges down the Augrabies Falls in the Augrabies National Park near Kakamas in the Northern Cape at the weekend.

The Augrabies Falls in the Augrabies National Park near Kakamas in the Northern Cape at the weekend were in full flood. John Yeld captured the spectacular sight.

The Falls on Thursday evening (4 February) when water levels in the Orange (Gariep) River were still building towards the weekend’s peak.

The Falls in the dawn light on Friday, ahead of peak flow on Saturday and Sunday.

A slow shutter speed on the camera transforms Friday morning’s wild flow through the Falls into dream-like ribbons of water.

Dawn breaks over the Falls.

“Hi Mom!” Sign language is useful because conversation is all but impossible over the deafening noise. The original KhoeSan inhabitants called the area Aukoerebis, or Place of Great Noise, and the name became converted to Augrabies over time.

A rainbow forms in the dense spray.

Rising waters late on Friday afternoon break over the safety barrier.