kolmanskop ghost town tours

Kolmanskuppe

Ghost town tours.

Kolmanskuppe owes its existence to the one jewel that is as precious as it is timeless: the Diamond.

In the year 1908 the first diamond was found, leading to a frantic diamond rush as thousands of fortune seekers converged in the desert to seek its wealth. This is how the little town of Kolmanskuppe developed. Today this once vibrant town lies at the mercy of the Namib Desert, threatening to engulf the grand buildings.

Here amongst the windswept houses of Kolmanskuppe lies the key to a past long gone, the remains of an era where diamonds sparkled and sustained life along the coast of Namibia.

Let us enchant you with some magical tales of intriguing history in the heart of the forbidden territory.

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The Tavern at Kolmanskop is situated in the Champagne Bar of the Casino Building.

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Kolmanskop Ghost Town

Kolmanskop ghost town tours & excursions:.

Kolmanskop is a ghost town located in the Namib Desert in southern Namibia. It was once a thriving diamond mining town, but as the diamond deposits were depleted, the town was abandoned and left to the sands of the desert. Today, Kolmanskop is a popular tourist destination, offering visitors a glimpse into the past and a chance to explore the eerie abandoned buildings.

The story of Kolmanskop began in 1908 when a railway worker named Zacharias Lewala stumbled upon a diamond in the desert. This discovery sparked a diamond rush, and soon, German miners and entrepreneurs flocked to the area to stake their claims. The town of Kolmanskop was established in the early 1900s, and it quickly grew into a bustling community with a hospital, school, ballroom, power station, and even a casino.

Attractions of Kolmanskop Ghost Town

One of the main attractions of Kolmanskop is the chance to explore abandoned buildings. The town was built in the German colonial style, and many of the buildings are still standing, including the hospital, ballroom, school, and power station. Visitors can wander through the streets and explore the buildings, which are now filled with sand dunes. The houses have been taken over by the desert, and the furniture, decorations, and ornaments are still in place, giving a glimpse into the past lifestyle of the people who lived there.

Another popular attraction is the diamond museum, which tells the story of the town’s history and the diamond mining industry. The museum depicts exhibits on the history of diamond mining in Namibia, as well as displays of some of the diamonds that were found in the area. The museum also has a collection of photographs of the town and its people, providing a glimpse into the past and how the town looked during its heyday.

Best time to visit Kolmanskop Ghost Town

One of the best times to visit Kolmanskop is during the early morning or late noon when the light is at its best for photography. This is also the time when the temperatures are more comfortable, as the desert can get very hot during the day. The golden hour, just before sunset, is especially popular among photographers as the light casts a warm and soft glow on the abandoned buildings, creating a surreal and eerie atmosphere.

How to get there

To get to Kolmanskop, the easiest way is to fly into Luderitz , the nearest town, and then take a tour from there. There are several tour companies that offer day trips to Kolmanskop, which include transportation and a guide. These guided tours are a great option for those who want to study more about the history of the town and its people. Alternatively, it is possible to rent a car and drive to Kolmanskop, but this is not recommended for first-time visitors as the roads can be difficult to navigate, and the tour guide might give a more informative experience.

In conclusion, Kolmanskop is a unique and fascinating destination that offers guests a glimpse into the past and a chance to explore an eerie ghost town. The abandoned buildings, diamond museum, and desert landscape make for an interesting and memorable experience. Kolmanskop is definitely worth a visit for those who are interested in history, abandoned places, and desert landscapes.

• What was the history of Kolmanskop?

A: Kolmanskop was established in 1908 when diamonds were discovered in the area. It quickly became a prosperous town, with German settlers building elegant homes, a hospital, a casino, and other amenities. However, by the mid-1930s, the diamond deposits were depleted, and the town was abandoned.

• What can visitors see in Kolmanskop today?

A: Visitors can see the abandoned buildings and structures in Kolmanskop, including the hospital, casino, ballroom, and homes. Some of these buildings are partially buried by sand, giving them an eerie and unique appearance.

• Why is Kolmanskop famous?

A: Kolmanskop is famous as a historic ghost town that showcases the boom and bust of diamond mining in Namibia. It is also known for its unique and unusual architecture, which combines elements of German colonial and Art Nouveau styles.

• What is the current state of Kolmanskop?

A: Kolmanskop is now a popular tourist attraction and is maintained by the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Efforts are underway to preserve and restore the remaining structures.

• Is it possible to tour Kolmanskop?

A: Yes, Kolmanskop can be toured by visiting the Namib Desert. Guided tours are available, which provide information about the history and significance of the ghost town.

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Kolmanskop Ghost Town

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Diamond mining ghost town of Kolmanskop

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Visit the famous abandoned diamond mining town

Do something different and go on a Kolmanskop Ghost Town Tour, explore the old buildings this former diamond mining town, which is great for photography

If you’re looking to visit Kolmanskop but are keen to have a break from endless desert landscapes, then the small port town of Luderitz is the place for you. The cool breezes coming off the Atlantic Ocean offer a welcome respite from the desert heat which is another attraction of staying here, rather than inland at Aus , during the warmer summer months. Although Luderitz is reasonably limited in places to stay and things to do in the town itself, it’s a pleasant enough spot to spend a couple of nights when making the essential visit to breathtaking Kolmanskop.

The diamond rush started in the late 1900s and within a few short years Kolmanskop was a thriving town, with an ice factory, casino and somewhat bizarrely, the first x-ray machine in the Southern Hemisphere. Today the old buildings of Kolmanskop, half-filled with sand are one of the iconic images of Namibia, and a photographer’s dream. Tailor made Kolmanskop tours are operated daily from Luderitz, with the local guides able to take you around the town and tell you more about its history – one of the most fascinating stories of boom and bust anywhere in the world. For keen photographers we can also arrange special “early access” permits, which offer the chance to visit before the main tours and capture the incredible buildings in the eerie early morning light.

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Visiting Kolmanskop Ghost Town Namibia. [With Photographers Guide.]

By: Author Kate O'Malley

Posted on Last updated: July 4, 2021

Home >> Destinations >> Visiting Kolmanskop Ghost Town Namibia. [With Photographers Guide.]

Sometimes a single image can captivate the imagination so much; a person is compelled to see this place for themselves. Kolmanskop Ghost Town in Namibia is such a place.

Many have been motivated to seek out the small abandoned diamond-mining town of Kolmaskop, swallowed by the Namib Desert because of a single image .

Kolmanskop Ghost Town attracts photographers from all over the world for its unique photographic opportunities. And while Namibia is a country filled with striking landscapes, Kolmanskop remains the most famous photographic attraction in Namibia.

Table of Contents

What You Will Find in This Guide to Kolmanskop Ghost Town in Namibia

Here you will find a complete guide to visiting Kolmanskop Ghost Town for both photographers and general visitors.

• You will get lots of handy tips on what to expect when visiting Kolmanskop.
• A brief history of the Kolmanskop mining town and its demise.
• Information about Kolmanskop tours.
• How to get permits to visit and photography permits.
• The cost of permits and tours.
• The best time to visit.
• What to take and what to wear (including safety advice).
• Photography tips for gear, best times, lighting and environmental issues.
• How to get to Kolmanskop and where to stay.

You’ll travel a long way to get to Kolmanskop so putting a little bit of planning into your visit to this extraordinary ghost town will certainly pay off when you finally get there.

About Komanskop Ghost Town

Kolmanskop is an eerie reminder of a moment in time. Sand creeps into every space and crevice like liquid. An entire town almost entirely swallowed up and reclaimed by the desert. The story of Kolmanskop is a fascinating tale of incredible wealth and prosperity followed by a sudden and rapid decline.

Kolmanskop History

Established in 1908 when railroad worker Zacharias Lewala first discovered diamonds at the site, Kolmanskop quickly grew into a prosperous mining town supporting more than 1,200 very wealthy residents.

Legend has it the precious stones were so plentiful one could find diamonds lying in the sand by moonlight. Prospectors would lie on their bellies, and crawl across the sand, collecting diamonds by the dozen.

Kolmanskop the Mining Town

The town boasted a theatre and ballroom, hospital, school, general stores, even a casino and bowling alley, designed around the German architectural style of the time.

With the wealthy residents in mind, buildings in the town were brightly coloured and lavishly decorated with the best furnishing and fittings. These features can still be seen today in peeling and faded wallpapers hanging on regardless of daily sandblasting.

The Demise of Kolmanskop

Within 40 years, after World War I and over 1,000 kilograms of diamonds later, the prosperity began to waver. The price of diamonds dropped, and the resource depleted, so residents simply left, leaving their houses and belongings behind. By 1954 the entire town was officially abandoned leaving behind a fascinating insight into the history of the Kolmanskop diamond mining boom and the power of the desert.

Where is Kolmanskop Ghost Town.

Kolmanskop is located approx. 12 km’s from the coastal port town of Luderitz, almost directly opposite Luderitz airport.

Visiting Kolmanskop Ghost Town – Kolmanskop Permits

There are two ways you may visit Komanskop Ghost Town, but both require you to purchase a Kolmanskop Permit.

General Visitors Permit:

This permit is for those just wishing to visit Kolmanskop Ghost Town and grab a few snaps-

Kolmanskop is open daily between 08.00 and 13.00.

Kolmanskop Ghost Town Tour:

Daily at 09.30 and 11.00 Mon-Sat and 10.00 only on Sunday.

Permit Cost:

Adults – N$85.00 pp (~ USD$6.00)    Children: (6-14) N$50.00 pp (~ USD$3.50)   Under 6 yrs: Free

Ghost Town Tour is included in this cost and allows for unlimited photographs.

Kolmanskop Photo Permit:

The Kolmanskop “photo permit” is available for “amateur photographers” to visit outside of the regular hours. The permit is available from sunrise to sunset.

We say “amateur photographers” as this permit is not available to commercial photographers. You will be asked to sign a waiver form stating you are not photographing Kolmanskop for commercial purposes.

Commercial photographers are required to obtain a separate permit at approx $500/day.

The Photo Permit costs:

N$230 pp (~ USD$17.00) and is valid only for that day. The 09.30 am or 11.00 am guided tour is also included in this fee.

Buying the Photo Permit:

Kolmanskop permits can be purchased at the gate or at Luderitz Safari and Tours on the main street in Luderitz.

If you are opting for the photo permit, we advise you purchase your permit the day before at Luderitz Safari and Tours as there will be nobody at the gate until 08.00.

When visiting outside of regular opening hours using the photo permit; you will be instructed to leave your permit on the dash of your car for easy identification by security.

Photographing Kolmanskop Ghost Town.

We visited Kolmanskop mid-March, as luck would have it, on the full moon. We arrived at the site at 05.00am, around an hour and a half before sunrise.

Even though it was still pitch dark, this was the perfect time for shooting the exteriors, emphasising the eerie aspect of the town.

If you arrive at this early hour, more often than not, apart from a chance meeting with the brown hyena’s that inhabit the area, you will find yourselves the only ones there. To be there alone is an experience in itself.

We felt sunrise offers the most photographic advantages for a number of reasons.

• The town has an easterly facing which provides the best light for building facades in the blue hour and just as the sun rises.
• It also gives fabulous light for internal shots in the few hours after sunrise as most of the buildings have the best windows facing east. The sun so low in the sky creates great shadow and lighting of details.
• Kolmanskop is also notoriously windy. The wind will usually be stronger in the afternoon, which sometimes makes visiting Kolmanskop at sunset impossible. After a very calm morning, we returned at sunset and were unable to leave the car without being sandblasted. Not a pleasant experience and potentially fatal for your gear.
• If you are fortunate to visit the morning after a strong sandstorm, footprints in the sand from previous tourists may be swept away leaving beautifully smooth dunes inside and around buildings. We weren’t this fortunate.

We spent just over 3 hours in the morning photographing the exteriors and interiors of the smaller buildings along the front of the town. After returning to our hotel for a quick shower and breakfast, we came back to join the 09.30 guided Kolmanskop Tour.

We can highly recommend doing this as it not only gives you insight into the town’s history, it also gives you access to some of the buildings not open outside of regular hours. Buildings such as the ballroom, theatre, bowling alley and ice factory. The only buildings to have undergone some preservation.

During the tour, you will also pick up some tips on how to find little hidden gems like Miss Kolmanskop, a drawing, much like the faded paint and wallpaper, is still hanging in despite daily abuse from sand.

Later in the morning, when the sun is quite high is perfectly fine for photographing some of the larger houses on the northern side of the town. As they mostly have a northerly facing, you will not miss out on any lighting opportunities.

These buildings have not suffered as much damage as some of the smaller ones and are not nearly as inundated with sand but still offer some excellent photographic opportunities.

Camera Gear

Photographing Kolmanskop offers many excellent opportunities to play with light and shadows. With that comes the challenges of low light shooting and dynamic range. Many people opt to bracket their images whereas we found longer exposures and careful exposure metering worked well enough.

Take a Wide Angle Lens

A wide-angle lens, if you have one is perfect for shooting Kolmanskop, as is a camera body with a full-frame sensor. In addition to the low light conditions of the early morning, or in our case, the night, you will find yourself up against the wall in some of the small rooms.

A wide angle lens is going to give you the best chance of capturing the internals as well as coping with the low light situations. I used a 14-24mm lens for nearly all of my shots at Kolmanskop.

Obviously, in these low light, conditions, a tripod is going to be necessary. If you don’t want to carry around a full-size travel tripod , a Joby Gorilla Pod will work well for resting on ledges or even rested against your own body. They are fantastic for travel when a full-size tripod becomes a little cumbersome.

Protect Your Camera Gear

It goes without saying; be extra careful with your gear in all that sand, especially if there is any wind. Namibian sand has a talent for getting in everywhere, no matter how careful you are. You may even like to consider returning to the car for any lens changes.

Take a Towel or Scarf for Covering or Wiping Gear

Carry a towel or scarf with you to wipe down lens barrels and tripod joints. While we had no issues with gear after visiting Kolmanskop, we have heard of other people who’s cameras have played up while photographing Kolmanskop, a problem they have attributed to possible sand ingress. Other issues may be tripod joints sticking or those ever annoying dust spots on your sensor.

Backpack or Sling-Style Camera Bag

If you don’t already have a backpack style camera bag, you may want to consider transferring any essential camera gear to any backpack or sling style bag you have so you don’t have to put bags down in the sand.

We have a Vanguard backpack but also carry a lightweight waterproof sling bag that comes in handy if we don’t need to carry too much extra gear and want to keep water or dirt out. Perfect for these types of photography trips. You can also swing this around to your chest when climbing in and out of windows.

A Small Torch or Head Lamp

A small torch is also very handy. It’s essential for finding your way and your stuff before the sun has come up and is also ideal for creating additional light or lighting particular items or scenes in extremely low light. We carry a  pocket torch with us all the time. They’re very handy for travel, not just for travel photography .

Want to know what photography gear we use?

You’ll find our travel photography kit here .

Want a Great Camera bag for Travel?

You’ll find the top 10 camera bags for travel here. 

What to Bring.

In addition to your camera gear, there are a few other essentials you may want to pack.

• Your Photo Permit – Very important and don’t forget to leave it on the dash of the car .
• Water. Even in the cool of the early morning, it’s hard work ploughing through all that sand.
• A lightweight scarf. If it’s windy, you may want to cover your face; it’s also handy for protecting and wiping down your camera. Although, from our experience, you won’t want to be there if it’s too windy.

What to Wear at Kolmanskop.

• First and foremost – sensible closed in shoes. There is a lot of sharp debris lying around in the sand such as broken glass, nails, and metal. A sturdy shoe will also make trudging through the sand easier.
• We recommend layers. Even in the summer it can be quite brisk in the early morning but will heat up quite quickly once the sun rises. Think lightweight, long pants and sleeves and perhaps a light windbreaker.
• Sun protection. Hat, sunglasses, etc.

Safety Considerations.

While Kolmanskop is a tourist attraction, it is not managed in a way most people would expect. People may enter almost all of the buildings regardless of the varying states of extreme disrepair. Floors, walls or ceilings could collapse at any time so you do need to use care and common sense when exploring. Some buildings will require you crawl through small spaces or even windows to enter so watch out for nails, broken glass and sharp metal.

The area also has populations of wild brown hyena and many snakes so be on the lookout for wildlife, especially when you are there on your own.

Getting to Kolmanskop.

Air Namibia flies from Windhoek, Namibia’s capital to Luderitz, although check schedules in advance as there may only be two or three flights a week.

Luderitz is easy to find via the B4 highway.   We came from the south after crossing from South Africa. Bear in mind if driving, whether from south or north, distances between towns and cities in Namibia are vast. Expect at least 5- 6 hours driving between destinations.

Most of the overland tours through Namibia include Luderitz and Kolmanskop in their itineraries.

Accommodation in Kolmanskop:

You will not find any accommodation in Kolmanskop itself but plenty of great options in Luderitz. We opted for a B&B, but there are also a few larger hotels. Check out latest accommodation rates for Luderitz .

Tip: Where to Eat in Luderitz

For excellent value and great food, head to Barrels Restaurant in Luderitz.  They have some of the freshest and cheapest crayfish we have had anywhere in the world. They also offer a great value set menu which changes daily.

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See eerie pictures inside a Namibian ghost town

In Kolmanskop, the sand-filled buildings of a former diamond mining town attract tourists by the thousands.

Brightly colored wallpaper peeling off the walls, dilapidated houses now inundated in rolling banks of sand … this is Kolmanskop, a ghost town in southern Africa’s Namib Desert , in the middle of a region known as “the forbidden zone.” And the story of how it got here is about as strange as the sight of the town today. ( See nine of the world’s best ghost towns. )

A strange, painful history

One evening in 1908, a Namibian railway worker named Zacherias Lewala was shovelling railroad tracks clear of creeping sand dunes when he saw some stones shining in the low light. Lewala’s German employer identified them for what they were: diamonds. Lewala was not paid or rewarded for his find.

Soon, hordes of prospectors descended on the area. By 1912, a town had sprung up, producing a million carats a year, or 11.7 percent of the world’s total diamond production.

Wealthy Kolmanskop became a well of luxury in the barren desert. There was a butcher, a baker, a post office, and an ice factory; fresh water was brought by rail. European opera groups even came to perform. A sort of mad eccentricity reigned. One family kept a pet ostrich that terrorized other townspeople and was made to pull a sleigh at Christmas.

But Kolmanskop—part of the struggling colony of German South West Africa —was also built on a legacy of colonial violence. Only four years before the discovery of diamonds at Kolmanskop, the Namibian Herero people rebelled against the German colonizers, who retaliated with genocidal ferocity by killing over 60,000 Herero.

Boom and bust

Kolmanskop’s prospectors were becoming rich overnight simply picking diamonds off the desert floor, but German authorities wanted greater control over the incredible riches. They cracked down, declaring a vast area of Namibia a Sperrgebiet , or restricted zone, forbidding entry to ordinary people and reserving prospecting rights for a single, Berlin-based company. Tribespeople displaced from their land by the zone’s construction were often employed as laborers in diamond mines, forced to live on cramped, barracks-like compounds for months at a time.

But it wasn’t to last. Intensive mining depleted the area by the 1930s, and in 1928, the town’s fate was sealed when the richest diamond fields ever known were found on the beach terraces to the south. The townspeople left in droves, abandoning homes and possessions.

By 1956, Kolmanskop was completely abandoned. The dunes that once rolled over Lewala’s railway tracks now burst through the ghost town’s doors and porches, filling its rooms with smooth banks of sand.

A second life (and death)

In 2002, a local private company called Ghost Town Tours was awarded the concession to manage Kolmanskop as a tourist attraction, bussing visitors into the forbidden zone to explore and photograph the sand-covered ruins. Today, as many as 35,000 tourists visit the site every year, bringing money to the nearby coastal town of Lüderitz. ( See haunting pictures of abandoned villages in Italy. )

“ Ruin gazing ” is nothing new—for millennia, people have been drawn to broken cities and toppled monuments, places of quiet contemplation that remind us of our own hubris and of the power of time.

Thóra Pétursdóttir and Bjørnar Olsen, editors of the book Ruin Memories: Materialities, Aesthetics and the Archaeology of the Recent Past , describe our fascination with ruins.

“Masked objects are unveiled, inside is turned out,” they write. “Collapsed walls, broken windows and open drawers expose intimacy and privacy, recalling to light the previously hidden, forgotten or unknown.”

Pétursdóttir and Olsen argue that the crumbling walls and sand-filled rooms of young ruins—their age measured in decades, not millennia—challenge our assumptions about the order and progress of the modern world.

A fascinating reminder of time, destruction, and mortality, Kolmanskop itself is disappearing into the desert.

But even these reminders that nothing lasts forever won’t last forever. Despite ongoing conservation efforts and a yearly limit on the number of tourists, studies undertaken around 2010 showed “a marked deterioration” of several structures in Kolmanskop.

Before long, the town might vanish into the desert.

Until then, the surreal ruins remind us of our societies’ power to build—but also of the material waste and human suffering we’re capable of wreaking. Today’s tourists visit a testament to the evils of the colonial system, a melancholy monument to a world disappearing once and for all beneath history’s shifting sands.

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Ghost Town: Tours from Luderitz: Kolmanskop, Elizabeth Bay, Pomona/Bogenfels

KOLMANSKOP TOURS*: rates on request

A : Kolmanskop One tour given twice per day, Monday to Saturday. The first tour at 9.30 AM and the second tour at 11.00 AM. Sundays: 10.00 AM. Permits can be arranged before visitors drive out in their own vehicles to Kolmanskop. After the tour visit the museum & restaurant which are open till 12.00. Restaurant serves light lunches from Monday to Saturday.

B : Kolmanskop special tour A special tour for visitors who wish to have a tour outside the standard tour times given above. Options: 08h00; 8h30; 14h00 or 15h00 (weather permitting).

Inside Kolmanskop ruins YouTube video :

C : Kolmanskop photo permit Photo permit for hobby photographers allows access from sunrise to sunset for photography, price includes joining the 9.30 AM tour.

D : Elizabeth Bay & Kolmanskop combined tour Kolmanskop and Elizabeth Bay tour, tour starts at 8.45. Clients are collected from their hotel with operator's transport. Minimum of 4 people and maximum of 8. No children under 14 years allowed on the tour due to searching & safety regulations. No visits to Atlas Bay during culling operations.

YouTube video quad bike & other adventure tours:

Rates : on request.

Kolmanskop abandoned town YouTube video:

H : Kolmanskop commercial film groups Commercial filming as per written agreement. Must be booked and paid in advance.

J : Goerke House The house is open to view Monday to Friday between 14h00 and 16h00. Saturday and Sunday 16h00 – 17h00.

K : Luderitz town tour

L : Diaz Point tour

M : Airport shuttle, one way/return

Kolmanskop town YouTube video:

NB : Requirements for entrance into the Diamond Area The Elizabeth Bay and Bogenfels tours take place in the RESTRICTED DIAMOND AREA or SPERRGEBIET . Access to this area is controlled by the Protected Resources Unit of the Namibian Police through NAMDEB. A valid permit issued by the Namibian Police is required to enter this area. In order to apply for this permit the following information is required by EACH guest willing to take part in the Elizabeth Bay or Bogenfels tour: 1) Full name 2) Nationality 3) Passport number 4) Home and street address 5) Home and work telephone/fax numbers 6) Accommodation establishment where you are staying in Luderitz PLEASE NOTE THAT A MINIMUM OF 6 WORKING DAYS ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT APPLICATION TO BE PROCESSED .

NAMIBIA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/namibia.namibia

LUDERITZ: https://www.facebook.com/groups/luderitz.group

TRAVEL NAMIBIA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelnamibia

DRONESBERG AERIAL PHOTO/VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/dronesberg

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Reservations are only accepted in writing: by fax or via e-mail. Final availability confirmation: in writing: by fax or via e-mail.

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Activities in the area :

• Coastways Safaris
• Activities at the coast
• Luderitz to Walvis Bay Adventure
• Scenic Air: flights along the coast and into the Namib
• Desert Express luxury train Southern tour
• Luderitz Safaris & Tours
• Reservations of resorts in National parks
• Coastways Safaris: 4x4 tours from Luderitz

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Kolmanskop Ghost Town

Kolmanskop is Namibia's most famous ghost town, and is situated in the Sperrgebiet, (forbidden territory) a few kilometers inland from the port of Luderitz. In 1908, the railway worker Zacharias Lewala found a sparkling stone amongst the sand he was shoveling away from the railway line, near Kolmanskop. His supervisor August Stauch, was convinced it was a diamond and when this was confirmed, the news spread like wildfire, sparking a huge, frantic diamond rush and causing fortune hunters to converge in droves on Kolmanskop.

The town soon developed, becoming a bustling little centre and providing shelter for workers from the harsh environment of the Namib Desert. Large, elegant houses were built and it soon resembled a German town, complete with an impressive array of amenities including; a hospital, ballroom, power station, school, 4-lane skittle alley, theatre and sports hall, casino, ice factory and the first x-ray station in the southern hemisphere. Fresh meat could be purchased at the butcher's, there was a bakery, furniture factory, a public playground and even a swimming pool! At the time, there was also a railway line to Luderitz.

The development of Kolmanskop reached its pinnacle in the 1920's, but the town declined after World War 1, when diamond prices crashed. At this time approximately 300 German adults, 40 children and 800 Owambo contract workers lived in the town. In spite of, or probably because of, the isolation and bleakness of the surrounding desert, Kolmanskop developed into a lively little haven of German culture, offering entertainment and recreation to suit the requirements of the affluent colonialists.

Unfortunately for Kolmanskop and it's inhabitants, richer diamond deposits were discovered further south, and operations were moved to Oranjemund. Within a span of 40 years Kolmanskop lived, flourished and died. Today the ghost town's crumbling ruins bear little resemblance to its former glory. The stately homes have been nearly demolished by the wind, and are gradually becoming enveloped by encroaching sand dunes. In 1980, the mining company De Beers, restored a number of buildings, and established and interesting museum, which has now become a tourist attraction.

Film buffs might be interested to know, that in 2000, the film, The King Is Alive, was filmed in Kolmanskop, with the town being utilized as the film's main setting. The town was also used as one of the locations in the 1993 film, Dust Devil.

• Alternatives

After obtaining your permit you can drive out to Kolmanskop and join a guided tour, which not only provides the history of the former mining town, but about the diamond industry today as well. After a brief introduction and visit to the more important buildings, visitors are allowed to explore Kolmanskop on your own. Timings are:

• Monday – Saturday 09h30 and 11h00
• Sunday and public holidays – 10h00.

Most of guided safaris which visit Luderitz include an excursion to Kolmanskop, if you are self-driving in Namibia and spend any time in Luderitz a visit to Kolmanskop should be on your itinerary.

This tour cannot be pre-booked but can be arranged on your arrival in Luderitz.

Pomona & Bogenfels Day Tour

Visit the Sperrgebiet with visits to the abandonded mining town of Pomona & the rock arch at Bogenfels

Zeepard Cruises

Several cruises around Luderitz harbour, options include sunset cruises & a visit to an oyster farm

Klein Aus Vista Hiking Trails

If you want to explore the flora and fauna of the Succulent Karoo desert on your own you have five different hiking trails to choose from.

Gondwana Sperrgebiet Scenic Sunset Drive

These drives in the late afternoon present an opportunity to experience the incredible scenic beauty of Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park at dusk.

Guided Desert Tour

Discover the delights of the desert: guided tours through the impressive scenery of the Succulent Karoo desert.

Day trip to Lüderitz and Kolmanskop

The Wild Horses of the Namib have roamed this harsh habitat since 1915 and are an experience one should not miss.

Klein Aus Vista Mountain Biking

There is a choice of different routes on well-marked trails, varying from 18 km to 65 km

Stone Horse/UI HÄB Land Art Hike

A short hike takes you to a lookout point with a unique view into the vast landscape and at a Land Art work of art.

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Kolmanskop: A Ghost Town in the Namib Desert

by 2summers | Feb 4, 2023 | Namibia | 22 comments

I have so much to tell you about Namibia. Our weeklong trip to this weird, wonderful country provided enough content to fill a book, and my head is throbbing with all the words (and pictures) clamoring to get out. But I can’t tell you everything at once so I’ll start with our visit to Kolmanskop, a ghost town in the Namib Desert.

Kolmanskop , which is about ten kilometers from the coastal town of Lüderitz , was founded in 1908 when an African railway worker named Zacharias Lewala discovered a diamond and handed it over to his German boss. The German boss, August Stauch, made a fortune buying up land around Kolmanskop before the diamond rush began, while Lewala received nothing for his discovery. But that is a story for another blog.

The area quickly became a diamond-rush boom town, filled with raucous mine workers, stately homes, a huge hospital, a bowling alley, an ice factory, and a tram frequented by well-to-do ladies wearing Victorian hats and hoop skirts.

But the town’s heyday was short-lived. Kolmanskop’s diamond supplies were in decline by the 1920s, which also coincided with the discovery of much richer diamond fields a few hours to the south. The town emptied over the years and was totally abandoned by the mid-1950s, when the paint began to fade, doors and windows dropped off their hinges, and rooms slowly filled with drifts of sand. The town is now a museum of sorts, part of the Tsau ǁKhaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park , and open to the public for a modest admission fee.

Kolmanskop probably isn’t the only abandoned desert mining town to be turned into a tourist attraction, and I haven’t been to any others so I have nothing to compare it to. But this place is on my list of the top five travel experiences — right up there with flying over an erupting volcano on Réunion . If you’re traveling anywhere near Luderitz, Kolmanskop is not to be missed.

How to Visit Kolmanskop

Kolmanskop is easy to get to by Namibian standards. It’s just outside a town with decent accommodation and tourist services, and it’s accessible via a very smooth, paved highway. You can buy a permit in Luderitz in advance. Or do what we did and just rock up at the gate during the museum’s opening hours of 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and buy a permit on the spot. We paid N$260 (the equivalent of R260, or about US$15) for two people and a car. Be sure to bring cash — there is a card machine but it wasn’t working on the day we went.

I can’t seem to find an official Kolmanskop website. But for more information about how to visit, especially if you want to arrive early to take photos at sunrise, check out this handy blog post by Travelationship .)

The admission fee includes a one-hour guided tour, offered in both English and German; tours take place at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. daily (except Sunday, when there is one tour at 10:00 a.m.). The tour covers a couple of the main town buildings, and then guests are encouraged to walk around and check out the rest of the buildings at their leisure. There is also a historical museum exhibit, a gift shop, and a nice-looking café. (We didn’t have time to eat there.)

I enjoyed the tour — it was informative and provided a great overview of the town’s history. I recommend doing it. But I also fidgeted for the entire hour, counting down the minutes until Thorsten and I could head out on our own and I could photograph the crap out of this eerie, sand-filled relic.

Exploring the Ghost Town

I found Kolmanskop incredible in many ways. The whole place is such a surreal combination of colors, textures, and light. Strange angles play with your eyes and mind in a way that’s difficult to describe.

Also, it’s totally insane that dumb tourists like us can wander in and out of these old, disintegrating buildings with zero supervision — without even signing a liability form! — ascending rickety wooden stairways, climbing in and out of windows, lounging in abandoned bathtubs, etc. It’s also kind of awesome.

I think we spent about 90 minutes wandering around on our own, but I definitely could have done another hour or two if we’d had the time. I’m almost glad we didn’t though — it’s already hard enough to figure out which photos to share.

I could go on but I’m going to reel myself in now.

Comment if you have any questions or stories of your own about Kolmanskop. And don’t worry — I’ve got a lot more Namibia content coming your way.

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22 Comments

This is a real treat and we visited this place a few times as well as the desert that surrounds this Kolmanskop area. Amazing how empty and how silent this place can be. Imagine how it was during the days when the mine was stil open and busy. Amazing country, so we wil go back there in August……

Ah, I hope you have an amazing time!

Stunning photos Heather!

Fabulous photos Heather! Namibia is top if my bucket list; quite accessible ????

Yes! It’s amazing.

bucket list too…

The sand in Victorian homes is surreal.

So surreal.

I’m surprised the buildings have not filled up more and presume the wall paper might have slowly disappeared as a form of souvenir. Don’t know how I feel about it becoming commercial but do understand. Glad you got to experience it and your photo’s are awesome. I would love to do a sunset or sunrise photoshoot there.

I have a feeling they MIGHT do some maintenance to keep the sand levels sort of consistent.

Great photos. My two favorites, however, are themed: you in the tub AND a tub on the sand (say what?)

Hahaha. Yes the tubs get around.

There’s a fine line between rubbish and history

There might be still people around who grew up there. I knew two of them but lost contact.

I got a comment from someone whose mom was born there – she’s 89 now!

Actually there probably ought to be quite a number of people still around who were born in Kolmanskuppe. I now read that people still were living there up to the middle of the last century.

We were there about 50 years ago. It looks quite a bit “renovated”. The sand was already filling rooms. I assume, they must try and remove sand from time to time. What a magic place it was!

I can only imagine what it was like 50 years ago! Yes, it’s an official museum now so there is definitely some upkeep going on. But still a very authentic-feeling experience.

your tub photos reminds me of visitors climbing into the empty sarcophagus in the big pyramid in Giza

That sounds cool!

Could you please suggest the route from Sesreim if I would like to visit Kolmanskop Ghost Town?

Hi Ann, I think there are a bunch of different ways you can go but it’s a pretty straight-forward, five-hour drive from Sesreim to Aus, where you could stay overnight. From there it’s about an hour’s drive to Kolmanskop. Or you could drive another hour from Aus to Luderitz and spend the night there — Kolmanskop is less than half an hour from Luderitz.

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Moscow Metro

Introduction of moscow subway system (metro).

Nowadays the Moscow Metro has 12 lines, light subway and monorail. All stations are unique and beautiful in their own way. Unfortunately, in order to visit them all, you need to spend many days. I invite guests to visit the ones that have the greatest cultural and historical interest from my point of view. Among them are the Revolution Square, Arbatskaya, Kievskaya (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line № 3); Kievskaya, Belarusskaya, Novoslobodskaya, Komsomolskaya (the Ring line number 5). Let us dwell a bit on each.

Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line

Subway station "revolution square".

Most recently - in the year 2008-2010 – the Eastern lobby was renovated. Because of the terrorist attacks in the Moscow subway that took place several hours before the planned opening of the East lobby after renovation, the solemn part of the event was canceled.

Subway station Arbatskaya

Subway Arbatskaya is located on the same subway line as the station "Revolution Square." It was founded in 1953. It received the name in honor of the Arbat Street. It has one ground lobby (Western). Initially, the lobby was in a separate building, but the new building of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense started, the lobby appeared to be in its atrium. The old exits were bricked up; a new entrance was built into the building of General Staff of the street Vozdvizhenka. There is a huge frame with a missing portrait in the ground lobby - until mid-1950 there was a portrait of Stalin. According to some reports, it survived, but closed with plaster.

The lobby was restored and partially reconstructed in 2007-2008.

The depth of the station is 41 meters.

Pylons are finished with red marble at the bottom, decorated with bouquets of flowers made from ceramics. The floor is laid out with gray granite. The walls lined with glazed ceramic tiles, white top and black bottom. The station hall is illuminated by massive bronze chandeliers in the form of rings.

Subway station Kievskaya

There are several subway stations "Kievskaya" in Moscow, located on different branches. This name is quite popular. It comes from the capital of Ukraine - one of Russia's nearest neighbors - the city of Kiev. The name is fully consistent with the idea of the subway station. The interior the station devoted to Soviet Ukraine and the reunification of Ukraine and Russia. The station is decorated with a large number of paintings .Twenty four murals depicting workers of Soviet Ukraine are placed on the arch above the pylons. The wall from the side of platform also contains frescos, mainly with images of fantastic plants. Pylons are decorated with light marble and additionally decorated with colorful ceramic cornice. The butt of the station has a large mosaic, depicting festivities to celebrate the 300 anniversary of the reunification of Ukraine and Russia.

Opened in 1953, this subway station for a long time was the final (1953-2003).

The station has one lobby, combined with the station ring line and located in the building of the Kievskaya railway station. The diameter of the central hall station is 9.5 m, the diameter of side one is 8.5 m. The depth of the station is 38 meters.

= Ring Line Subway =

It opened in 1954. The station received its name after the Kiev station, and locked the Ring line. During the construction of the station many projects were proposed, but the victory in the competition won the Kiev architects who made the construction of the station. It is the only station of the Ring Line which is not located in the Central Administrative District of Moscow.

The station has a pylon structure. Eighteen pylons are decorated with mosaic panels of glazes, decorated on the theme of Ukrainian history and friendship between the Ukrainian and Russian peoples, which started in the mid-17 century.

On the front wall of the central hall of the station a large panel with molding in the form of flags and a mosaic portrait of Lenin in the center are located. There are lines of the Soviet national anthem around the portrait, and under the portrait - the words of Lenin. One of the ways out of the station was designed by French architects modeled on the Paris Subway in 2006.

At one of the mosaics – “The Struggle for Soviet power in Ukraine "- modern passengers observe a mobile phone and PDA in the hand of one of the guerrillas, and on his knees - a laptop. In fact, he uses a field telephone, which was really a heavy thing (guerrillas holds it in two hands), and thing that people see a laptop is the lid of a box with a telephone. However, these phones have begun to produce only in the second half of the 20-ies of XX century. We must assume that the mosaic depicts a foreign field telephone transmitter.

Subway station Belorusskaya

The founded of the station was in 1952. It received the name after the Belarusian railway station nearby. The station has two ground-based lobbies. The Western one goes to Tverskaya  Zastava. It is decorated with beautiful carvings. The Eastern one leads to Butyrskiy shaft and Forest Street. The Eastern lobby is known for its majolica panels.

The station Belorusskaya is located at a depth of 42.5 m below ground. The diameter of the central hall is 9.5 meters.

Pylons are faced with light marble. The walls lined with white ceramic tiles, the floor is covered with ceramic tiles, gray, white and red colors. Lamps placed on pylons, in the form of vases made of glass and marble. The theme of decoration is economy and culture of Belarus. Decorative pattern on the floor repeats the theme of traditional Belarusian embroidery. Decorations of the ceiling consist of stucco decorations and 12 mosaic panels depicting the life of the Belarusian people.

Subway station Novoslobodskaya

Built in 1952, Subway station Novoslobodskaya got its name from the eponymous street:  the station is located at the very beginning of it.

Novoslobodskaya is pylon station of deep foundation (its depth is 40 m) with three arches.

Exit to the street is through the ground lobby with column portico, located on Novoslobodskaya Street lined with gray marble. Pylons of the underground station are faced with marble from the Urals. Thirty two spectacularly illuminated stained-glasses, placed inside the pylon and bordered by steel and gilt brass are splendid decoration of the station. A remarkable mosaic "World Peace" is located at the end of the central hall. The picture depicts a happy mother with a baby in her arms; it was the face of Stalin at the picture: the child gave a hand to him. But in times of Khrushchev the face of the former leader of USSR was removed from the panel. The walls are lined with bright marble; floor is covered with white and black granite slabs, placed in a checkerboard pattern.

Subway station Komsomolskaya

The station was built in 1952 and named in honor of the Komsomolskaya Square, which is situated nearby.

This subway station is the station of the deep bedding. Its depth is 37 meters. The station has column and three- arched design. Cast iron decoration is used in the construction, monolithic slab used as a tray for a collapsible finishing. The length of the boarding hall is 190 meters; width of it is 10 meters. There are 68 octagonal columns at station.

The main theme of the interior of the station is the fighting of the Russian people for their independence. The ceiling is decorated with eight station mosaic mural made from glazes and precious stones. Six of them represent the Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry Donskoy, Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, Alexander Suvorov and Mikhail Kutuzov, the Soviet soldiers and officers at the walls of the Reichstag.

 Two other panels, depicting Stalin ("Victory Parade" and "Presentation of the Guards Banner"), were replaced after the dethronement of Stalin's personality cult in 1963. New panels depict Lenin's speech in front of the Red Guards and the Motherland on the background of the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower.

The yellow ceiling is decorated with mosaic and moldings. The hall is illuminated by massive chandeliers hanging between the panels; platforms are illuminated with smaller chandeliers. The columns are decorated with marble capitals and trimmed with light marble, as well as the wall station. The floor is laid with pink granite. There is a bust of Lenin at the end of the hall. At the opposite end of the escalator is a large Florentine mosaic of the Order of Victory with red banners on the background. The ground lobby of the station is decorated with bas-reliefs.

In conclusion...

Each of the stations of the Moscow subway is attractive and interesting in its own way. Each has its own long and fascinating history and is beautifully decorated. The Moscow subway is a whole world, which can be talking about for hours. I suggest you short - no more than one hour and a half - and a fascinating journey through the world of the Moscow subway. The pleasure is guaranteed!

Sculpture Park "Art Muzeon"

Mausoleum and necropolis.

• Bombing in Moscow Metro On March 29, 2010, another tragic event happened in Moscow that shocked not only the citizens of the Russian Federation, but also many people from countries that oppose the threat of terrorism. In the early morning rush hour, two women bearing suicide weapons blasted themselves in the subway trains of the Moscow Metro.
• The Best Redesign of Moscow Metropolitan Map 2013 Russia's leading internet and graphic design agency has won an online vote for the best redesign of the Moscow Metro map. Art. Lebedev Studio is a design company in Russia, founded in 1995 by Artemy Lebedev. They redrew the Moscow Metro map for a second time in three years, with even cleaner graphics and a raft of new details and won more than 50% of the online vote.

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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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