Guidebook
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini
James Bainbridge et al. · 2022
Covers the Drakensberg, Augrabies, KZN Midlands, Panorama Route falls and Lesotho's Semonkong for Maletsunyane in one book.
South Africa · Southern Africa
Augrabies Falls
Aukoerebis
The Orange River funnels into a 240-metre granite gorge here, and the Khoi name meaning 'place of great noise' undersells how violently the water ricochets through the chasm. A fenced viewpoint lets you look straight down into the pothole-riddled ravine.
Sixth-largest waterfall by volume in the world Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Augrabies Falls drops 56 metres (184 ft) on the Orange, inside Augrabies Falls National Park. It is a cataract-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Kakamas, with UTN the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
As a cataract waterfall, a large, powerful waterfall or series of rapids on a big river.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Augrabies Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Kakamas are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotographyWildlife & safari
When to go
Best after summer rains fill the Orange River catchment; dramatic flash floods possible March.
Entry: SANParks conservation fee
Getting there
- Base town Kakamas
- Airport UTN
- Country South Africa
- Region Southern Africa, Africa
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Augrabies Falls
South Africa
Height56 mWidth—
Most similar
Kairak falls
Kazakhstan
Height74 mWidth—
Also a cataract waterfall
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
56 m
74 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Augrabies FallsKairak fallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 17× taller than Augrabies Falls. Victoria Falls is 1.9× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Augrabies Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Augrabies Falls
7:24
35:15
8:31
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Walking guide
Walking in the Drakensberg: 75 Walks
Jeff Williams · 2017
Route descriptions for the Amphitheatre, including the Sentinel chain-ladder route to the top of Tugela Falls and the gorge walk below.
On the map
-28.5967, 20.3453
Quick answers
Where is Augrabies Falls?
Augrabies Falls is in South Africa (Southern Africa), inside Augrabies Falls National Park. The nearest base is Kakamas and the closest airport is UTN. Its coordinates are -28.5967, 20.3453.
How tall is Augrabies Falls?
Augrabies Falls drops 56 metres (184 feet). It is a cataract-type waterfall on the Orange.
When is the best time to visit Augrabies Falls?
Peak flow is February to April. Best after summer rains fill the Orange River catchment; dramatic flash floods possible March.
What can you do at Augrabies Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Augrabies Falls?
The usual base is Kakamas, and the closest airport is UTN. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. SANParks conservation fee.
Nearby
Closest to Augrabies Falls
Maletsunyane Falls
Lesotho · 192 m · 760 km away
Longest single-drop abseil (204m) in the world
Abseiling
Full guide Tugela Falls
South Africa · 948 m · 830 km away
Among the world's tallest waterfalls (disputed second)
Ncandu Falls
South Africa · 930 km away
Ncandu Falls is a waterfall in the Ncandu River in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa close to the town…
Magwa Falls
South Africa · 142 m · 950 km away
Magwa Falls is a waterfall in Eastern Cape province in South Africa. The main water drop is 142 metres .