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On the edge of the Namib Desert, between huge sand dunes, in southern Namibia you will find an abandoned and dilapidated ghost town called Kolmanskop. A bustling place where diamonds were for the taking a century ago. People lived here in luxury but also worked very hard. Yet Kolmanskop was completely abandoned less than a century ago. The once thriving town of Kolmanskop is being absorbed bit by bit by the desert. It is therefore highly recommended to plan a visit to this ghost town during your trip through Namibia.
The history of Kolmanskop in Namibia
The small settlement of Kolmanskop is named after Johnny Kolman who was a freight hauler driving back and forth between Aus and Lüderitz. One day in 1905, he got stuck with his wagon in the sand about 10 kilometers from Lüderitz. Because of a sandstorm, he could only be rescued after two days, but unfortunately his oxen had run away. He therefore left his wagon standing on a sand hill (kuppe). This spot was called "Kolmannskuppe" in German and used as a landmark through which to navigate.
Once a thriving diamond city
The story of Kolmanskop as a diamond town only begins in 1908 when Zacharias Lewala, a railroad worker, found a glittering stone in the sand. A diamond! The news spread incredibly fast, and in no time German miners occupied the area. It's hard to imagine years of mining diamonds in this desolate area, but what a successful period it was. In 1912, the area around Kolmanskop accounted for a production of one million carats. This was almost 12% of the world's diamond production at the time. As prosperity grew, more and more houses were built where the miners lived, but that was not all. The living environment here had to be as comfortable as possible, so a theater, bowling alley and casino were also built. And all in an environment consisting only of a vast expanse of sand.
The year 1914 accounted for a whopping 5 million carats, a staggering number of tons of diamonds. But surely the most bizarre fact we find is that back then workers simply lay on their stomachs on the sand and picked diamonds off the ground with tweezers. A diamond in Kolmanskop was the size of a match head. One worker could find an average of about 400 to 500 carats of diamonds a day. At its peak, about 1,300 people lived in Kolmanskop, including 350 Germans. The rest were locals who did most of the hard work and lived just outside of town.
From everything to nothing
One setback was the outbreak of World War I in 1914, which caused prices for diamonds to fall. But the real setback didn't come until 1927 when diamonds were discovered along the Orange River. The diamonds were the size of golf balls, making them a lot more attractive. Gradually, the area near Kolmanskop depleted and more and more people left Kolmanskop. By 1936, when there were virtually no diamonds left, the town was falling more and more. The last families left Kolmanskop in the 1950s, and gradually swallowed up by sand, Kolmanskop became a veritable ghost town.
A visit to ghost town Kolmanskop
The chance that you might find a glistening stone in the sand makes it quite interesting to visit Kolmanskop, right? Even though this chance is incredibly small. Besides, of course, it is also incredibly cool to walk through the abandoned and dilapidated dwellings of Kolmanskop up to your knees in the sand.
Where is Kolmanskop located in Namibia?
You will find the ghost town of Kolmanskop about 10 kilometers from Lüderitz. A visit to Kolmanskop is therefore ideal to combine with a stay in this German coastal town. We visited Kolmanskop on our way from Aus to Lüderitz Since we were driving past it at the time anyway. From Aus it is about a 1-hour drive to Kolmanskop.
The entrance fee to visit Kolmanskop
For a regular ticket to Kolmanskop, you will pay 180 NAD per person in 2025. In addition, there is a surcharge of 80 NAD per car. You pay both at the entrance to Kolmanskop. This is also where your license plate and name are recorded. You can pay there either in cash or by card.
The entrance fee for Kolmanskop includes a guided tour. You can take advantage of this or not. It depends on what you are interested in. We would definitely recommend it as it is a fun way to get more insight into the once bustling life of Kolmanskop. If you prefer to walk around on your own, that's no problem at all.
If you want to visit Kolmanskop at sunrise or sunset, you can also opt for a Photo Permit. This costs 400 NAD per person. The tour is also included in this ticket.
A tour of Kolmanskop
Nowadays, Kolmanskop is a popular spot among photographers, but also attracts more and more tourists because of the interesting story behind the ghost town. To know as many ins and outs as possible, it is recommended to take the guided tour. From Monday to Saturday, two tours take place in the morning. The first starts at 9:30 am and the second at 11:00 am. On Sundays, only one tour takes place and it starts at 10:00 am. The entire tour lasts about an hour and takes you past several locations such as the theater, the bakery and the bowling alley. The guides speak English and German.
Helpful tips for visiting Kolmanskop in Namibia
Before you visit Kolmanskop, we want to share some helpful tips with you. Some are obvious, but an extra reminder never hurts:
Kolmanskop is open from 9 am to 1 pm. So don't arrive in the afternoon, that would be a shame!
Take plenty of water with you. You are in the desert so temperatures here can be quite high.
Fancy a coffee or a snack? You can do that at the Kolmanskop Coffee Shop. Here you can pay by cash or card.
Bring your camera, but don't forget extra batteries, either. Your camera is probably running overtime here.
You may enter any premises, but this is at your own risk. Therefore, use your common sense. Almost all buildings are in disrepair. Floors, ceilings, stairs and walls can collapse at any time.
Wear closed shoes. Rusty nails, barbed wire and wooden splinters can be everywhere.
Enjoy! It is a mega special place to visit and believe us, Kolmanskop really does not disappoint.
Lois Weeterings
A dreamer and adventure seeker, always on the lookout for new experiences. But also a hard worker with a thousand ideas racing through my mind. As a personal travel consultant and travel blogger, I share my passion for faraway destinations, thrilling adventures, and winter sports. With deep knowledge of places like Namibia, Colombia, the ABC Islands, and the Middle East, I’m here to help you craft a trip you’ll never forget. Through my personal stories and expert tips, I aim to inspire you to explore the world your way. Always with my camera in hand, I’m determined to capture every magical moment and share it with you.
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