Ai-Ais is Nama for 'Scalding Hot' and these springs are beneath the towering peaks at the southern end of Fish River Canyon National Park. Although the 60°C springs have probably been known to the San for thousands of years, the legend goes that they were 'discovered' by a nomadic Nama shepherd rounding up stray sheep. They're rich in chloride, fluoride and sulphur, and are reputedly therapeutic for sufferers of rheumatism or nervous disorders.
The hot water is piped to a series of baths and jacuzzis as well as an outdoor swimming pool. A pleasant diversion is the short scramble to the peak which rises above the opposite bank (note that the trail isn't marked). It affords a superb view of Ai-Ais, and you'll even see the four pinnacles of Four Finger Rock rising far to the north. The return trip takes about two hours. Amenities include a shop, restaurant, petrol station, tennis courts, post office and, of course, a swimming pool, spa and mineral bath facilities. Be advised that during the summertime, there's a serious risk of flooding - Ai-Ais was destroyed by floods in both 1972 and 2000, and seriously damaged in 1988.
