Kolmanskop Sand Covered Houses Namibia

Made famous over the past few years by photographers this small once prosperous mining village is now overtaken by sand, Intensive mining depleted the area by the 1930s, and in 1928, the town’s fate was sealed when the richest diamond fields are 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.

In the dry, barren stretches on the edge of the Namib Desert in south-western Africa lies the bones of a grand town.

In the dry, barren stretches on the edge of the Namib Desert in south-western Africa lie the bones of a grand town.

Among the gentle curves of the sand drifts and bleached stone outcrops, ornate buildings rise, defying their desolate surroundings and exuding an air of quiet dignity.

The vastness of the lonely landscape dwarfs the buildings and the sand seeks to hide the structures within it. It is not until you approach the houses that their characteristic German architecture, featuring truncated roofs and generous windows, can be appreciated.

The air in the deserted streets carries no hint of moisture. Life exists solely in the form of isolated stunted shrubs eking out a living; testing the limits of survival. The only sound is the wind patiently working a pane of glass loose from its frame. The fine desert sands are blown through the town, working their way into the abandoned houses. Welcome to Kolmanskop.

How to get to Kolmanskop sand-covered houses Namibia

Kolmanskop lies 850km south-west of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, and 10km east of the isolated coastal town of Luderitz. Formerly, a train line ran eastwards from the coast at Luderitz to the larger town of Keetmanshoop, where it connected with a northern line to the capital.

Where to stay while visiting the Kolmanskop sand-covered houses Namibia

Lüderitz has several hotels varying from the upmarket to several more personal establishments. A proliferation of self-catering guesthouses reflects the long-term nature of many visitors to the town and some of the places to stay include Desert horse inn, Eagle’s nest Luderitz, Haus sand rose, island cottages, and Nest hotel.