 |
|
|
|
|
| |
The Kalahari
covers a wide stretch of land in eastern Namibia. The
tall red dunes, which run from north-west to south-east
in parallel chains over hundreds of kilometres, are
the most typical feature. In contrast to the Namib,
grasses, shrubs and acacias grow on the dunes and in
the dune valleys. Some clay and salt pans that fill
with water after sufficient rains have formed between
the dunes. Game is abundant in the Kalahari.
|
|
 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Hardap
Dam near Mariental is the largest artificial
lake in the country. It dams up the Fish River, which
in its lower course, not far from where it flows into
the Gariep (Orange) River, has shaped the Fish River
Canyon. Hardap Dam and the surrounding nature reserve
with various species of game (including Black Rhino)
is a popular greenbelt recreation area for water sports,
angling and bird-watching. |
|
|
|
|
| |
The crater
of the Brukkaros massif near
Berseba looks like an extinct volcano. It is assumed,
however, that it is the result of a subterranean explosion
which caused a hollow under the surface to cave in.
Brukkaros can be ascended from the southern rim of the
crater. A path leads into the crater and to the ruins
of a former research station, located at about 1,590
m above sea level. |
|
|
|
|
|
| The
quiver tree is the symbol of the south. In earlier
times the San used the branches to make quivers
for their arrows – hence the name. Around
Keetmanshoop there are several groves of this
type of aloe. ‘Quiver
Tree Forests’ worth a visit can be
found at farm Garas, 20 km north of Keetmanshoop
on the B 1 tar road, or at farm Gariganus, 20
km north-east of Keetmanshoop on the C 17. All
the quiver tree groves are located in an area
in which large chunks of greyish black dolerite
rock are stacked upon one another to form veritable
sculpture galleries. At farm Gariganus the site
has been named ‘Giants’
Playground’. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
The quiver
tree grove in the area of the 'Mesosaurus
Fossil Site', 42 km north-east of Keetmanshoop
on the road to Koës, is less known but no less
impressive. There are also piled up ashlars of dolerite
rock, as at the Giants’ Playground. Even more
impressive is the fossil site in this area: fossilised
skeletons, about 50 cm long, of the Mesosaurus tenuidens
are imprinted in slate. The reptile, which vaguely resembles
a crocodile, lived about 260 million years ago in a
huge lake which then covered large parts of southern
Africa. |
|
|
|
|
| |
The town of
Keetmanshoop is the administrative
centre of the south. Several buildings from colonial
times have been preserved in the centre of the town,
including the railway station (1907/08), the Imperial
Post Office (1910) which now serves as a visitors’
information centre, and a church of the Rhenish Missionary
Society with a small museum
where photos and items from the early years of the last
century are on display. |
|
|
|
|
| |
With a capacity
of about 69 million cubic metres, Naute
Dam south-west of Keetmanshoop is the country’s
third largest dam. It is also a bird sanctuary. In the
nature reserve on the southern shores there are several
beautiful inlets for swimming. |
|
|
|
|
| |
The Fish
River Canyon in the lower course of the ephemeral
river with the same name is one of southern Namibia’s
main attractions. It cuts through the seemingly enormous
scenery of the Nama Karoo which is criss-crossed by
the courses of other ephemeral rivers, lined by vegetation.
Characteristic plants are euphorbia, quiver trees and
small shrubs. Between the main lookout point at Hobas
and the hot springs at Ai-Ais in the south the canyon
is at its most impressive. This 80 km section of the
Fish River is accessible on a hiking trail (several
days, minimum 3 participants, booking essential, medical
certificate required) which is said to be among the
most beautiful ones in southern Africa. |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
State-owned
Ai-Ais Hot Springs Resort
is located at the lower end of the Fish River Canyon.
The very modest thermal bath is fed by a hot spring.
There is an outside pool and an indoor pool with Jacuzzi. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Situated 30
km south of Karasburg and away from the main routes,
the little hamlet of Warmbad
was founded in the vicinity of a hot spring. There is
a museum on the history of the Bondelswart Nama which
covers topics like the work of the first missionaries
who started their task in 1806, the uprising against
the German colonial power in 1903 or the struggle against
South African rule in 1920. There are also the remains
of camel stables from colonial times, a mission house,
a church and an old cemetery. The hot spring is still
bubbling away and fills a swimming pool shaded by trees. |
|
|
|
|
| |
The Gariep
(Orange) River forms the border between Namibia
and South Africa over a distance of 500 km. It bears
water all year round and flows into the Atlantic Ocean
at Oranjemund. The river is only suitable for small
boats. Guided canoe tours for enjoying nature sustained
by the river start from the little hamlet of Noordoewer.
Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park spreads out north
and south of the Gariep.
A road along the Gariep (Orange) leads to the mining
village of Rosh Pinah (zinc) and on to Aus. An alternative
route is the road north of the Fish River Canyon via
Seeheim to Aus.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Bethanien,
north of the tar road between Keetmanshoop and Aus,
boasts a faithfully restored former mission church (1859)
and the replica of the first stone house (1815) which
was built there. An exhibition about Bethanien’s
missionary history can be viewed in the tiny Schmelen
House – named after the missionary with the same
name. The house of Nama leader Joseph Fredericks has
also been preserved. This is where Fredericks and Heinrich
Vogelsang (authorized representative of Adolf Lüderitz,
a merchant in Bremen) signed the bill for the sale of
the bay of Angra Pequeña on 1 May 1883 –
it was the prelude to German colonial rule in South
West Africa (proclaimed in 1884).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
East of Aus the remains
of a POW camp can be found which was set up in
1915 for German soldiers by the South African
forces. In Aus itself there is an Information
Centre for visitors – with diagrams on the
Wild Horses of the Namib at Garub (20 km west
of Aus), the unique flora of the area (Succulent
Karoo, Nama Karoo and Dune Namib) as well as other
fields of interest - such as transport, mining,
Karakul breeding and resistance against Apartheid. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Horses from
a nearby stud farm, the German colonial forces and the
South African army, which were dispersed or abandoned
during the First World War, conquered the edge of the
Namib as their habitat. In the course of more than 90
years the Wild Horses of the Namib
have adapted to the harsh conditions. They can be watched
at the drinking trough at Garub, 20 km west of Aus,
slightly north of the tar road to Lüderitz. |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Lüderitz
still boasts numerous witnesses to its history of more
than a century. Among the best-known sights are the
magnificent Jugendstil buildings from the early years,
like imposing Goerke Haus and neighbouring Felsenkirche
(Church on the Rock). The modern Waterfront includes
a Yacht Club and is the starting point for boat tours
to the small islands off the Atlantic coast. The clear
ocean water, by the way, provides the culinary delicacies,
for which Lüderitz is known as well: fresh lobsters
and oysters, depending on the season. Out-of-town excursions
are to 'Diaz Point' where Portuguese seafarers erected
a stone cross for a landmark in the 15th century, or
to the Restricted Area with deserted diamond settlements
like Pomona or natural beauty spots like Großer
Bogenfels (rock arch). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The diamond town of Kolmanskuppe,
founded in 1908, has turned into a ghost town
long since. The grand houses of yesteryear have
partly been reclaimed by the Namib Desert. Various
buildings, like the old ice factory, the butchery,
the skittle alley and the general-purpose gymnasium,
are included in a guided tour. There is also a
small museum and a permanent exhibition on the
mining and processing of diamonds. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
The
Tiras Mountains are located about 50 km north of Aus.
The D 707 - dubbed the most beautiful
byroad in the country - runs in a wide semi-circle
around the south-western flank, with the red sand sea
of the Dune Namib on the one side and the solitary reddish-brown
Tiras Mountains on the other. |
|
|
|
|
| |
The fortified
manor house Duwisib sits on
the slope of the wide and truly beautiful valley of
a seasonal river west of Maltahöhe. It was built
in 1908 by an eccentric horse breeder, Hansheinrich
von Wolf, and his American wife Jayta. Castle Duwisib
has been preserved relatively well. The splendour of
its heyday is still apparent, among others, in the great
hall, the dining hall and a chamber furnished in the
Biedermeier style. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Socially minded
members of the Maltahöhe
community have established the 'Oahera Art' market where
high-quality souvenirs can be bought and local Nama
craftspeople can be watched at work. Tours of Maltahöhe
by donkey-cart are also on offer. It is highly recommendable
to attend a performance by the school choir which is
bursting with joie de vivre and vocal power. Traditional
Nama songs and dances are performed by prior arrangement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sossusvlei is one of
Namibia’s most impressive sights. The famous
clay pan is enclosed by the endless red and yellow
sand sea of the Dune Namib. For photographers
the desert landscape offers the most amazing contrasts,
colours and shapes in the early morning and late
afternoon light. Climbing a dune should definitely
be part of a visit. Sossusvlei can only be reached
from the national park’s entrance gate at
Sesriem. Sesriem Canyon,
a gorge of about 2 km in length, is also in the
vicinity of Sesriem. 'Ses rieme', or six thongs
of an ox wagon and team were once tied together
to scoop water from the bottom of the gorge. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
The rugged
massif of the Naukluft Mountains fits into the line
of the Great Escarpment, the clear-cut border between
the lower-lying Dune Namib and the uplands in Namibia’s
interior. The Naukluft with
its numerous springs and its diverse fauna and flora
is very suitable for hiking tours. The 'Naukluft Trail'
is regarded as one of the most strenuous but also one
of the most beautiful hiking trails in southern Africa. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Farm
Neuras in the barren, hilly country east of the
Naukluft Mountains is blessed with vigorously gushing
springs which are utilized for irrigating vines. The
small winery can be toured by prior arrangement. |
|
|
|
|
| |
The petrol
station and garage as well as the farm store and café
in Solitaire have acquired
cult status. Until just a few years ago they were literally
hidden away in the great nowhere. With tourism on the
rise traffic through Solitaire has clearly increased
as well, but with a little luck it is still possible
to get hold of a helping of the apple crumble for which
Solitaire is world-famous.
|
|
|
|
|