Kolmanskuppe is situated a few kilometres from the port town Lüderitz. It was first developed in 1908 after diamonds was found at the site. The Town was build for the De Beers workers to provide shelter from the harsh Namib Desert. Kolmanskuppe is Afrikaans for Coleman's Hill and in German its Kolmanskuppe. It was once a small mining village but now it's a popular tourist attraction run by the De Beers Mining Company. The town was named after a transport driver who abandoned his ox wagon in the middle of a sandstorm on a small incline opposite the settlement, his name was Johnny Coleman. The architectural style of the town was mainly Edwardian. They had all the basic amnesties of a small town like hospital, ballroom, power station, school, skittle-alley, theatre and sport hall, casino, ice factory. They also had the first x-ray-station in the southern hemisphere, as well as the first tram in Africa. And a railway that linked them to Lüderitz. After World War I the town declined as the prices of diamonds crashed and the operations was moved to Oranjemund. It was abandoned in 1956 making it a Ghost Town but since then some of the structures has been restored. Due to the geological forces visitors to Kolmanskuppe walk through the houses in knee deep sand. Due to its location which is restricted area, visitors need permits to visit Kolmanskuppe, which can be purchased at the entrance gate - you can park your car inside.

Mon -Sat 08h00 - 13h00 (By appointment only)

ACCESS:
A photographer's permit can be obtained at the gate office a day earlier (at an extra cost), which gives one access to Kolmanskop from before sunrise to after sunset.

SHOPS & SERVICES:
There is a restaurant, museum, curio shop and public toilets.

TOURS:
Guided tours are offered in English, German and Afrikaans. From Monday to Saturday, the tours start 09:30 and 11:00, and on Sundays and public holidays there is only one tour which starts at 10:00.

“A photographer's permit can be obtained at the gate office a day earlier (at an extra cost), which gives one access to Kolmanskop from sunrise to sunset.” - Mietsie Visser, 2017/05/08

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