Finding out the location	very easy
Access	very easy
Safety	safe
Risk of being seen	very high
General condition of the place	very good
Traces of vandalism	none or very few
Good place for taking pictures?	very good
Did you see other people?	very many

Visit date    August 1 2024 at 7 hr
Visit duration    5 houres +

Kolmanskuppe 1908–1956


In the heart of the desert lies the ghost town of Kolmanskuppe, once one of the richest towns in the world. Its name, which means “Coleman’s Peak” in Afrikaans, comes from a man who abandoned his wagon behind during a harsh sandstorm.

In 1908, Namibia was part of German South-West Africa. Workers were doing maintenance on the railway next to Grasplatz station when Zacharias Lewala, a Namibian, found a stone shining in the sand. Having worked in the diamond mines of Kimberley, South Africa, he recognized it as a diamond and took it to his supervisor, August Stauch.

Stauch was amazed but kept the discovery a secret. Instead of telling anyone, he started buying land in the area, sparking a diamond rush that made him rich while Lewala received no credit. Ironically, when Stauch died, he lost all his money due to bad investments.

The German Empire claimed the area and called it Sperrgebiet. in English “Forbidden Zone”. Sperrbiet remains off-limits today because of ongoing diamond mining. People caught entering illegally face strict punishments.

In the early 1900s, it was said that on clear nights during a full moon, the dunes sparkled from all the diamonds. The first miners, about 80 men, collected the gems laying down straight on the ground, allowing around 300 German settlers to live in luxury in Kolmanskuppe.

The town had many facilities: a casino, a hospital for 200 patients, a school, a tram system, a hot water pool, and even an ice factory (!). Residents enjoyed electricity and personal telephones, which were rare in Europe at the time. The casino had a champagne bar for women, a smoking room for men and even a bowling alley. Other entertainments was film, circus and ballet shows.

In stark contrast, around 800 miners worked in Sperrgebiet without any comforts. After two years, they received their pay but had to leave immediately with no return. They underwent strict security checks, including X-rays, body searches and were forced to drink laxatives to stop them from stealing diamonds. Those caught could face heavy fines of one million Namibien dollas and even prison for up til 10 years. In some parts pigeons were even forbidden because they were taught to smuggle diamonds.

The diamond fields were mined until World War I. In 1928, the richest diamond deposit ever was found about 270 kilometers away, near Orange River, and many left Kolmanskuppe.

The hospital in Kolmanskuppe closed in 1956 and due to a lack of fresh water, the remaining residents had to leave. Today, Kolmanskuppe stands as a ghost town, and its buildings are open for visitors.

To enhance your experience in Kolmanskuppe, consider these tips:
1. Visit before sunrise; the optimal lighting is from 7:00 to 9:00 AM.
2. Expect sand in your shoes and clothes – Accept it as your new way of living.
3. Explore smaller houses for untouched sand and make your own footprints in the desert.

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