Part of the Gondwana Fish River collection, this quirky, motel-style accommodation is cheerful, welcoming and arguably somewhat tacky! It is a themed hotel celebrating the history of the automobile, with vintage cars, pick-up trucks and engines decorating the large bar and restaurant building. For many, this might generate the ambience of stepping into small town Middle America rather than remote Southern Namibia, but there is no doubting the warmth of the welcome and the enthusiasm of the staff for the concept and for the Fish River Canyon area.

Accommodation is in 24 simple twin or double en-suite rooms built around a courtyard garden, or in large family rooms that can accommodate up to four people if two of them are small children. There is a small swimming pool and, perhaps most usefully of all, a petrol station for guests or passers through to fill up after a long journey south. Although clearly not to everybody’s taste, many guests at Canon Roadhouse love the unique atmosphere and the convenience of access to Fish River Canyon.