Kolmanskop

About this place

A ghost town in the heart of the Namib Desert that in the early 20th century was a small, very rich mining village after diamonds were found in its sand, with elegant German houses, a modern hospital, a school and a ballroom. It was abandoned completely by mid-century, when the diamonds ran out and mining moved south. Since then the sand has crept into the houses, so rooms with coloured wallpaper, wooden doors and broken windows lie half-buried in soft dunes pouring through the doorways, an enchanting scene that photographers love the world over. Daily guided tours tell the story of the residents and the diamonds, after which visitors wander the houses freely. A special photographers' permit allows access from sunrise to sunset to catch the low light in the sand-filled rooms. A standard tour is NAD 230 per adult, per the town's site. The houses are old and fragile, so do not climb to upper floors. The desert is very hot by day from October to March and cold at night, so start early and carry water and a hat.