Kolmanskop, Namibia: Know Before You Go

Last Updated on September 13, 2024 by Travelationship

Kolmanskop is an abandoned diamond-mining town in Southern Namibia in the Namib Desert. It is about 10 kilometers East of Luderitz on the B4 highway. Zacharias Lewala, a railroad worker, discovered the first diamond in 1908. Once word got out, diamonds were in the area, and Kolmanskop grew into a prosperous mining town. Wealthy residents designed and built the town with German architecture in mind. The buildings were large, lavish, and decorated with color and style in mind.

The Decline of Kolmanskop, Namibia

The town’s residents prospered for years, but their luck collapsed after World War I. The mines were stripped dry and depleted of their resources. Families had to move and find work elsewhere.
Records state the town was officially abandoned in 1954. Since its abandonment, the desert elements slowly began reclaiming its land. Buildings sit in various degrees of decay and contain different levels of sand, some as high as the ceiling.

The location is popular with photographers and travelers passing through to nearby Luderitz. We enjoyed Kolmanskop so much; we consider it a must-see destination in Namibia. Frankly, you are nuts to miss it!

Kolmanskop Namibia – Things to Know Before You Go

When to Go:

Most of the town sits on the East side of a hill, making for fantastic shadows and light at sunrise. I have no doubt sunset provides equally spectacular lighting inside taller buildings. We recommend visiting at sunset or sunrise for a more dramatic visit and photos. If you are here for photography, we strongly recommend purchasing the Photo Permit and arriving before dawn. We arrived about 20 minutes before sunrise and were the only visitors. The darkness and the stillness enhanced the feeling of abandonment and creepiness, and once the sun came up, the beauty of Kolmanskop shined.

We visited during June, which is winter in Namibia. It was warm in the sun by 8:30 am, but most buildings stayed cool with a few exceptions to specific rooms. I can only imagine this place could get mighty uncomfortable in the middle of the dry, hot months and the rainy season.

What to Bring

• Your permit to enter. If you purchase a Photo Permit and arrive before 9:00 am, limited parking is available near the entrance gate. You may move your vehicle after 9:00, but it is not required.
• Water and carry it with you.
• Camera with charged extra batteries. If you plan to spend more than an hour at Kolmanskop, your camera batteries will get a workout. My battery died a lot faster than I expected. I had a portable charger with me, but for the last two hours, I had to take a more conservative approach to capture snaps.
• Bring a scarf or handkerchief for a few reasons. If it’s windy, you will want to cover not only your face at times, but you will also need it to wipe off your camera. Sand can harm camera equipment, so take extra precautions and clean your camera throughout your visit. Matt’s Canon 5Ds started to act wonky and wouldn’t take any photos for about twenty minutes. We were convinced it was because sand got stuck in a sensitive place.
• Common Sense! These buildings are in various stages of disrepair. Floors, ceilings, stairs, and walls can collapse at any time. Before you start crawling on or in the different nooks and crannies inside and outside the buildings, Think! Also, watch where you walk. Rusty nails, barbed wire, and slivered wood are scattered throughout the compound. I highly recommend wearing trainers or closed-toed shoes for safety, but walking through the hot sand is much easier without it burning your feet.

While at Kolmanskop

I recommend giving yourself at least 3 hours if you are meh about abandoned places. If you are into this sort of thing, give yourself more time. We spent 5 hours at Kolmanskop and could have easily spent more time. A guided tour is available, but we opted out of it.

We found the best lighting for outside photos and inside some smaller buildings just before sunrise and sunset. We felt the light within 2 hours after sunrise was best for inside the more prominent buildings.

It got busy at about 9 am and continued through 13:00. The buildings closest to the parking lot and museum were the most active.

Plan of Attack

Your first instinct may be to walk through the most prominent house, Minenverwalter, on the hill. It looks to be in the best shape (it is), making it the least intriguing. The colors are possibly the most vibrant (depending on the light) because they haven’t faded or been worn away as much. For us, it wasn’t the highlight we expected.

Make sure to walk around the outside of the buildings. Don’t just stick to the main entrance/exit points. Some have hidden doors or rooms in the back or underneath. I can’t say we had a favorite building, but each building was unique in color, texture, lighting, and energy.

Key Finds

The Buchhalter house nearest to the Minenverwalter house was pretty cool. Lots of character and a heavily decrepit second floor.

The Architekt house is drenched in pink, blue, and yellow hues.

I won’t tell you which houses have bathtubs, sinks, or furniture pieces because part of the fun was discovering the furnishings as we moved along.

The best hallway is in the Krankenhaus, the most prolonged building near the center. Try to enter while the sun is hanging low in the sky; otherwise, the building can be pretty dark.

The red, rusted metal building on the opposite side of the parking lot from the museum is filled with great colors and textures.

Remember the series of worker houses on the property’s back (South section). Some of the wreckage is quite severe; be extra careful. We saw a few rabbits and other creatures in this area, which led to some unexpected noises and shadows racing by us.

The toilets are located next to the museum/restaurant building. They were clean, and we had running water, toilet paper, and soap during our visit.

Travel Basics

Website: This is the official Kolmanskop website. We cannot find an official Luderitz Safaris and Tours website in the neighboring town of Luderitz.

How to get there: We drove from Sossusvlei, roughly 500kms/311miles, and it took us under 6 hours. The B4 highway is the only way in or out of Luderitz by road, so getting lost is almost impossible. Flights are also available from Windhoek to the neighboring town of Luderitz via South Africa’s Airlink Airline; it should be noted that flights are only available a couple of days a week.

Restaurant and Museum: A restaurant and museum are on the premises and open between 9:00 am and 13:00. The food/drink prices were slightly higher than “normal” local rates, but the food was excellent. Breakfast and lunch-type items, chips, pastries, and hot and cold drinks make up the menu.

Weather: Kolmanskop is part of the Namib desert region; therefore, all desert weather applies. We visited in their winter month of June. The morning was briskly cold, but the temperature heated quickly once the sun rose. This website gives a good overall idea of the weather during the year.

Language: We had no issues finding English speakers in Kolmanskop or Luderitz. We also found Afrikaans and German speakers.

Prices and Permits:

A permit is required to enter Kolmanskop. Four different passes exist and must be purchased at the Kolmanskop gate or Luderitz Safaris and Tours in Luderitz. We bought our ticket the day before from LST, which we felt saved us some time and possible hassle at the gate so early in the morning.

The below rates and descriptions are valid as of June 2024:

• Photo Permit: N350; This permit allows you to enter the area from sunrise to sunset. You are welcome to join any of the scheduled tours. Once you obtain this permit, you will be provided with the gate access code. Please note that Kolmanskop is situated in the restricted diamond area and Tsau//Khaeb National Park (former Sperrgebiet); therefore, NO night photography is allowed.
  • Contrary to the name, non-commercial photos can be taken using any of the four permits. The photo permit should be called the Early/Extended Entrance fee. ***If you are into photography or abandoned buildings, we can not stress enough to purchase the photo permit.***
• Adult: N150; The adult pass allows entrance to Kolmanskop between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. It includes a guided tour, which you can take at either 9:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Sundays and Public Holidays tours are available at 10:00 a.m. and should be confirmed through the LST office.
• *Child: Children under six years of age are free.
• Please note that Kolmanskuppe is situated in the Tsau//Khaeb National Park, and we do not know when MET will implement park fees. Thus, any future government fees will be additional and for the visitors’ own account.

Where to Stay

No lodging is available in Kolmanskop (it’s abandoned after all). The closest accommodation is Luderitz, located 10 km/6 miles to the West. Here are a few suggestions for places to stay.

Lüderitz Nest Hotel:  A prime choice for those seeking a touch of luxury. This hotel offers stunning ocean views, modern amenities, an outdoor pool, a delectable seafood restaurant, and a lovely wooden pier for oceanfront strolls.

Alte Villa Gästehaus: This charming guesthouse is located in a beautifully restored historical villa. Guests enjoy its lush garden, sundeck, and welcoming living room with a library. It is perfect for travelers who appreciate a bit of history and old-world ambiance.

Island Cottage: Located on the unique Shark Island, this cottage offers a secluded getaway with breathtaking ocean views. It’s ideal for visitors who want a retreat amidst nature.

2FiftySix on Second: This bed and breakfast boasts a central location and beautifully themed rooms, making it a convenient and stylish base for exploring Lüderitz.

Where to Eat

The Portuguese Fisherman: Indulge in some of the freshest seafood in Luderitz.  This restaurant is especially famous for its oysters and line fish, expertly prepared in the traditional Portuguese style.

Diaz Coffee Shop: A popular spot for breakfast, lunch, and freshly roasted coffee. It’s known for its generous portions and friendly atmosphere.

Ritzi’s Seafood Restaurant: This waterfront restaurant offers delicious seafood dishes with a view. The menu has a diverse selection, including a delicious seafood platter.

Barrels: This pub is a great place to mingle with locals and savor a cold beer or cocktail after a day of sightseeing. If you’re lucky, you might even catch some live music on the weekends.

Travelationship Rating:

5 out of 5 Travelationship High Fives. Kolmanskop is one of our top 5 favorite locations we have EVER visited. Type of traveler rating – adventure, historical, bucket lister, photography, abandoned locations

Read more about our adventures in southern Africa here.

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