Kolmanskop tours & holiday packages
A ghost town situated in the Namib Desert
Once a diamond mining town to those seeking their fortune, Kolmanskop is now an eerie ghost town abandoned to the sands of the Namib Desert.
A railway worker named Zacharias Lewala found a sparkling stone lying in the sand while digging away from the railway line near Kolmanskop in 1908. He showed it to his supervisor August Stauch, who confirmed it, was a diamond and the news spread fast, catching the attention of hundreds of German families dreaming of riches.
Now, tourists flock to Kolmanskop to see how the once grand German houses are gradually getting reclaimed by Namibia’s sand dunes and strong winds.
More on Kolmanskop holidays
Introduction
Kolmanskop reached its peak in the 1920’s, where over 300 German workers, 40 children and 800 Owambo contract workers. The Owambo are currently the largest population group residing in Namibia, accounting for a third of the countries entire population.
Kolmanskop resembled a typical German town. It had sophisticated houses, impressive facilities such as a hospital, a power station, a school, a theatre and even a casino.
Unfortunately, the town began to wane after the First World War, which resulted in the drastic drop of diamond prices. The diamonds were found further south and Kolmanskop was eventually abandoned in 1954.
Kolmanshop is now a popular film and television series destination, with the town being used in the 1993 movie Dust Devil and The King is Alive released in 2000. A 2010 episode of Life After People and BBC’s Wonders of the Universe have also been shot here.
Know before you go
Kolmanskop reached its peak in the 1920’s, where over 300 German workers, 40 children and 800 Owambo contract workers. The Owambo are currently the largest population group residing in Namibia, accounting for a third of the countries entire population.
Kolmanskop resembled a typical German town. It had sophisticated houses, impressive facilities such as a hospital, a power station, a school, a theatre and even a casino.
Unfortunately the town began to wane after the First World War, which resulted in the drastic drop of diamond prices. The diamonds were found further south and Kolmanskop was eventually abandoned in 1954.
Kolmanshop is now a popular film and television series destination, with the town being used in the 1993 movie Dust Devil and The King is Alive released in 2000. A 2010 episode of Life After People and BBC’s Wonders of the Universe have also been shot here.
When to go
What to pack
Weather and Climate
Safari / Holiday Styles
Where to stay
Kolmanskop Map
Kolmanskop's location on Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions about Kolmanskop
Whether you are in the Southern or East Africa you will generally be able to see the big five. The difference really comes in when considering antelope as they are based on your chosen location. go there.
This is all dependant on the countries that you will be visitng and due to the status of certain vaccinations changing at times, please consult our experts before getting vaccines. go there.
In some parts of Southern Africa it is safe to drink the tap water, however it is highly recommended to stick to bottled water (mostly supplied) during your trip as even drinkable African water is completely different in taste and… go there.
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