Pediva Hot Springs

Pediva is a set of hot springs on the Curoca river in the desert south of Namibe, where water at around forty degrees comes out of the ground and runs into pools among rocks and palms. It sits in country that is otherwise bare, and the strip of green along the river is visible from a long way off. Herders bring cattle to the river and Himba-related communities live in the area. Getting there is a full day of four-wheel driving on sand tracks.

What you actually see

• The hot pools - water at around forty degrees in rock basins by the river.
• The palm strip - green vegetation following the Curoca through bare desert.
• The river - the Curoca running seasonally through the valley.
• The herding communities - cattle brought to the water by people living in the area.

When to go

May to September is the dry season and the practical window. The river can be impassable after rain from January to March. Nights in the desert are cold even in the dry months.

Honest expectations

There is no infrastructure whatsoever: no facilities, no fuel and no phone signal. The route needs a convoy or at least a second vehicle and a guide. Water and fuel must be carried for the whole trip.

Nearby

Iona National Park is west towards the coast, and Namibe is north.