Namibia Day 5: Klein Aus to Kolmanskop, Lüderitz, and Diaz Point (Day Trip)
Start: Klein Aus Vista Campsite
Destination: Kolmanskop, Lüderitz, Diaz Point
Region: Kharas
Distance: 110 km, 15 km, 140 km
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes to Kolmanskop, 15 minutes to Lüderitz, 30 minutes to Diaz Point, 2 hours back to Klein-Aus
Route Profile: Paved road, gravel road around the Lüderitz Peninsula
Accommodation: Klein Aus Vista Campsite
Our Rating: 7/10
Fauna: Namib Wild Horses (Desert Horses), Ostriches, Seals, Penguins
Shopping: -
Food: Muesli, Bread, Peanut Butter, Banana, Snacks, Dinner at the Campsite Restaurant
We chose our campsite, Klein Aus Vista, primarily because of its location. It serves as an excellent base for exploring the West Coast. Today, we embark on a short day trip to Lüderitz. Since it's not far away, we start the day at a leisurely pace. During our breakfast, we observe weaver birds flying in and out of their massive nest.
Once ready to depart, we head towards Kolmanskop. On the way, there's an opportunity to observe the wild horses in Garub. These horses were originally brought to southern Africa by European settlers. Although we didn't make a stop as we plan to spend more time in Lüderitz, we still caught glimpses of the wild horses along the way. The road to Lüderitz is paved and in a condition that surpasses even most highways in Europe. Consequently, we enjoy an extremely pleasant, comfortable, and quiet drive today.
Perfect road to Kolmanskop.
Freight train in the desert.
Kolmanskop, a village covered in sand, was once the hub of German diamond mining. In 1956, the last residents moved away, and since then, the desert has been reclaiming what was once its own. Even today, remnants of European architecture and amenities such as a ballroom or a bowling alley can be found. For a small entrance fee, visitors are allowed to explore these remains. It's worth a stop, especially for photography enthusiasts. There is also a small café and a souvenir shop. The weather today is harsh, and despite it being 15 °C, the strong wind is particularly unpleasant. We are relieved to continue our journey to Lüderitz after spending around 45 minutes exploring, protected from the wind inside the car. The drive to Lüderitz takes about 15 minutes.
The Teacher's House is in the foreground.
Bathing in sand.
Old Officer's House in Kolmanskop.
Old bowling alley in surprisingly good condition.
The desert reclaims everything.
We leave Lüderitz on our right and head directly to the lighthouse, 20 km away (Diaz Point). This lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula commemorates the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Diaz, who, in 1487, became the first European to set foot here and erected one of the stone crosses he brought along for the Portuguese crown. Today, a replica can be seen. There used to be a bridge leading to Diaz Point, but now only fragments remain, worn away by the wind and waves. Nevertheless, we dare to jump from stone to stone and reach the viewpoint. From this rocky ledge, we have a great view of the Atlantic and the coastline. The weather is harsh and rough; the wind whips over the waves, and the water splashes us in the face. The many seals on the rocky outcrops seem unfazed. The wild Atlantic leaves a powerful impression on me. The climatic conditions here are entirely different from Kolmanskop or our cozy Klein Aus Vista Campsite.
After a short walk on the beach (covered in seashells), we continue our journey to the large bay. Here too, the waves are crashing, and in the distance, we can even see penguins. A bit chilled, we start our return journey. Now we take the time to drive through Lüderitz. Lüderitz is a small town nestled in a bay. There are campsites here as well, but today we are glad to return to our sheltered campsite. On the way back, we spot wild horses again, a small ostrich, and even a dead ostrich on the roadside.
Back at the campsite, we enjoy a cold beer and cider on the terrace with a magnificent view. We use the Wi-Fi to book our next accommodation. A family from Germany sits next to us in the lounge, and we quickly strike up a conversation. The older gentleman tells us about his journeys, including walking the Camino de Santiago and even walking from home to Rome. His eyes sparkle as he shares his story, and I could listen for hours.
We have reserved a table at the campsite's restaurant for 6:30 PM. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. For starters, we order a fish soup and salmon with avocado mousse. For the main course, we choose Buttery Chicken with rice, naan, and vegetables, as well as a Beef Stew. Both dishes are delicious, and the portion sizes are more than generous. The total cost for our first restaurant visit, including an aperitif and two glasses of wine, is 641 N$ (about USD 40). We enjoy the excellent service, the good South African wine, and then drive back to our campsite. Two minutes later, our bed is ready, and we just have to crawl into our sleeping bags. It's already 10:00 PM. Quite late!
Diaz Point with a broken bridge.
Diaz Point with flamingos in the foreground.
Rough sea and harsh weather.
Lighthouse on the Lüderitz Peninsula.
There is much to see and explore around Diaz Point. The fauna and flora were surprisingly interesting. During our hike along the cliffs, we observed flamingos and seals, among other things. Additionally, one can explore more of this coastal stretch by car, taking various routes. After about 2 hours, however, we were ready to head back as the weather was not favorable.
And even more flamingos.
As mentioned earlier, the road was in impeccable condition, and the kilometers passed quickly despite covering about 140 km. Since the staff at the campsite was exceptionally accommodating, we had reserved dinner before our departure. Having eaten very little throughout the day, we were eager to see what the meal would be like. We were courteously escorted to our table, the ambiance and the view were perfect. We arrived just in time for the sunset. The red African sun enveloped everything in a gentle veil.
View from the restaurant in the main building at Klein Aus Vista.
The food and the wine were also sensational - truly highly recommended. Unfortunately, we don't remember the specific dishes and wines we enjoyed. We sat there for a long time, reflecting on the first days of our journey. Both of us were surprised by how much we had already seen and how relaxed we felt.
Dinner at the Klein Aus Vista Restaurant.
