Sahara Fragile

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Sahara desert
  • Namib desert
  • Kalahari desert
  • Savanna desert
  • Fragile States

Sahara Fragile

Header Banner

Sahara Fragile

  • Home
  • Sahara desert
  • Namib desert
  • Kalahari desert
  • Savanna desert
  • Fragile States
Namib desert
Home›Namib desert›How to explore this strange ghost town swallowed by the desert

How to explore this strange ghost town swallowed by the desert

By Christopher J. Jones
December 29, 2020
0
0


Like a snapshot in time, ghost towns can offer an eerie glimpse into the past, where time has stood still, but where nature lives around them. Our fascination with these places does not come from what we see but from understanding what happened there. Why did people come here and then leave? The mystery of the ghost town is why we are looking for them. These are the stories they tell.

Hannes Vos / Shutterstock

Where is Kolmanskop, Namibia

You will find exactly such a place, and a very good story, in the Namib Desert in southwestern Africa, Namibia. Namibia is south of Angola, west of Botswana, and shares a border with South Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean, where the coastal town of Luderitz is located.

In the early 1900s, Namibia was a colony called German South West Africa, and Luderitz was a thriving German-influenced town made up of settlers and local tribes who had lived on the land for centuries.

Kolmanskop was created after a surprising find along the railroad tracks, about 7 miles southwest of Luderitz. This is where you will find the ghost town of Kolmanskop.

Kolmanskop, Namibia, a ghost town engulfed by the desert.

Kanuman / Shutterstock

A strange and disturbing story

The legend of Kolmanskop began in 1908 when a railway worker named Zacharias Lewala discovered some small diamonds while shoveling dirt on the tracks. Once the German settlers learned of the discovery, prospectors began to arrive and a small mining town developed and developed along the railway line.

Kolmanskop grew and its population became quite prosperous. In 1912, the mining town was producing around 1 million carats of diamonds per year, or nearly 12% of the world diamond market. The city has become an oasis of wealth in the middle of the desert. Large and lavish German-style buildings were built with sand, and life flourished until war broke out in 1914.

Kolmanskop, Namibia, a ghost town engulfed by the desert.

Anton_Ivanov / Shutterstock

In 1915, as World War I raged in Europe, South African forces loyal to the Allies launched an attack on German forces defending the colony. In July, these forces surrendered. In 1919, South West Africa was entrusted to South Africa by the newly formed League of Nations.

But time is running out for the city of Kolmanskop. After decades of mining, the diamond deposits have started to dry up. Then, in the 1930s, diamond discoveries in South Africa pretty much sealed the city’s fate. Prospectors and mining companies moved and the city began to die.

Kolmanskop, Namibia, a ghost town engulfed by the desert.

matthieu Gallet / Shutterstock

According to National Geographic, the town that was Kolmanskop was officially abandoned in 1956. Over the years the desert has reclaimed the town in its own way, turning the once thriving community into a sand-filled ghost town, which has now become a tourist attraction.

Kolmanskop, Namibia, a ghost town engulfed by the desert.

Kanuman / Shutterstock

Know before you go

Namibia gained independence in 1990 and Kolmanskop has become a must-see for tourists. The city continues to erode in real time, but ironically, a restaurant and museum have sprung up to help welcome visitors.

Visiting Kolmanskop is a bit of a challenge. The official site works, but most of the links are broken. It indicates a phone number to call, as the ghost town tour is only available by appointment. Photography permits are also required. According to the website, they can be purchased at a place called Desert Deli and Gifts in the coastal town of Luderitzbucht, located about 20 minutes west of the ghost town, as well as at Luderitz Safari and Tours. Four types of permits are offered.

Kolmanskop, Namibia, a ghost town engulfed by the desert.

Tania Steyn / Shutterstock

The Adult Permit includes a guided tour and a photo permit. Children under six are free, but over six need a children’s permit. A photo permit is available for anyone wishing to take pictures at sunrise or sunset, which is considered the optimal time for photography and also includes the guided tour. Special permits are also offered but must be arranged in advance.

Kolmanskop is in the desert, so plan accordingly. The weather in the desert can be tricky, so check conditions before your visit and make sure you are aware of the season. January and February in Namibia are summer and the hottest time of the year.

Related Articles:


Related posts:

  1. Infected zebra most likely kills three cheetahs – sciencedaily
  2. Namibia: Team Namibia treasures the diamonds of the Namib Desert
  3. Remarkably high diversity of bees in a small expanse of desert • Earth.com
  4. Gaze at the stars from the comfort of your own bed at this Namib Desert lodge – Robb Report
Tagsatlantic oceannamib desertsouth africa

CATEGORIES

  • Fragile States
  • Kalahari desert
  • Namib desert
  • Sahara desert
  • Savanna desert

RECENT POSTS

  • E-commerce sales spike to record. Retail sales ex gas stations, ex car dealerships Go to record. Falling gas prices and shortage of new vehicles threaten these retailers
  • At least 15 migrants die in Libya’s Sahara Desert
  • You need to regulate how much you can actually afford to pay each month
  • NASA satellite sees dust plume from Sahara Desert over Atlantic Ocean
  • How much do you buy for real estate financing?

ARCHIVES

  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • January 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • November 2012
  • May 2012
  • October 2011
  • November 2010
  • April 2008
  • July 2006
  • November 2005
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions