The town’s recent history begins in 1905 when a huge mineralized pipe was discovered at Tsumeb. The same pipe was mined in prehistoric times but those ancient workers barely scratched its surface. Most of the ore was removed in the 20th century by cut-and-fill methods; copper, lead, zinc and germanium were extracted. Since its founding, Tsumeb has been primarily a mining town. The mine was originally owned by OMEG (Otavi Mining and Railway Company) and later by TCL (Tsumeb Corporation Limited) before its closure a few years ago when the ore ran out and the main shafts became flooded by ground water. The mine has since been reopened by a group of local entrepreneurs (Ongopolo Mining) since a fair amount of oxidized ore remains to be recovered in the upper levels of the mine. The town also boasts a metal smelter, currently owned by Namibia Custom Smelters.

Tsumeb is the gateway to the north and the closest town to Etosha National Park. It's a welcoming town with colourful Jacaranda, Flamboyant and Bougainvillea trees lining its streets. Tsumeb offers all the services and facilities that a traveller might need as well as plenty of interesting attractions. Visitors will find the Tsumeb Museum fascinating while the Tsumeb Cultural Village and Arts and Crafts Centre is perfect for those with a taste for local culture and art. The annual Copper Festival, organised by the Tsumeb Municipality during the second half of the year, is a well-known event on the local calendar. For visitors with an interest in gemstones and minerals, there are a number of historic German mines to visit, like Alt Bobos and !Uris west of town. About 20km north-west of town you'll find two natural sinkholes, Lake Otjikoto and Guinas, both are popular scuba diving sites. The exact depths of these lakes is unknown, but they're at least 80m. The water in Guinas is completely clear and is the habitat for a unique species of fish, Tilapia guinasana. Otjikoto has poor visibility but is of particular interest as the retreating German forces dumped a lot of their weaponry and supplies into the lake in 1914. Some of it has been recovered for display in museums.

COPPER FESTIVAL:
To find out about the Copper Festival, which is normally held around October, contact the chairman of the organising committee, Julius Gaeseb, at the Municipality on Tel: +264(0)67 221 056 or Cell: +264(0)81 146 0166.

FUEL:
Take note: Garage or Petrol cards will no longer be accepted as a legal tender for purchase of fuel, spares or repairs in Namibia. Cash, Debit and Credit cards are accepted at most fuel stops in the larger and touristy towns. Just always take extra cash with in case they only accept cash!

INFO:
Travel North Namibia Guesthouse offers a range of convenient traveller services and you can contact them on +264(0)67 220 728 or cell or +264(0)81 299 4214.

SHOPS & SERVICES:
Tsumeb offers all the services and facilities that a traveller might need. There’s a Spar, Shoprite and Pick ‘n Pay in town, as well as fuel stations, repair shops and restaurants.

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