Kolmannskop: A Deserted Mining Town
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Port
Luderitz, Namibia
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Activity Level
Strenuous Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$140
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 2 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Kolmanskop is Namibia's best-known ghost town, situated in the Spergebiet (forbidden territory) just a few miles inland from Lüderitz.
In 1908, a railway worker found a sparkling stone in the sand near Kolmanskop and the diamond rush was born. Large, elegant houses were built and Kolmanskop soon resembled a typical German town, complete with an impressive array of amenities including a hospital, ballroom, power station, school, two-lane skittle alley, theater and sports hall, casino, ice factory, butchery, bakery and the first x-ray station in the Southern Hemisphere.
Kolmanskop's heyday was in the 1920s, with approximately 300 German adults, 40 children and 800 Ovambo contract workers living here.
Forty years later, it had died completely, and today this ghost town's crumbling ruins speak little of its former glory. The stately homes have been nearly demolished by the wind, and are gradually becoming enveloped by encroaching sand dunes.
The area creates the perfect backdrop for marvelous photo opportunities. In fact, the movie The King Is Alive was filmed in Kolmanskop in 2000 and it was a location used in the 1993 film, Dust Devil.
A guided tour at Kolmanskop offers you an introduction to its busy history, eerie present, and the diamond industry today.
Please note:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Shade is limited; please dress accordingly. Bring a hat and wear sunscreen. Transportation is maintained but it is basic compared to the transportation you will find elsewhere. Vehicles of different sizes may be used. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations.