Kolmanskop: From Diamond Boomtown to Namibia's Ghostly Tourist Draw
Once at the heart of diamond fever, Kolmanskop today resembles an abandoned ghost town. Despite this, thousands of tourists visit each year to witness the havoc wrought by nature.
Kolmanskop (formerly Kolmanskuppe) is a small, abandoned mining town nestled in Namibia's heart of the Namib Desert, towards the southern end of the African continent. The town's fortune changed in 1908 when a worker laying railway tracks discovered a shiny stone that turned out to be a diamond, ushering in the small town's diamond era.
Treasure hunters swarmed to Kolmanskop. Within a few years, the town, then part of a German colony, boasted over a thousand people.
Luxuries in the heart of the desert
As the mine grew, Kolmanskop quickly established a solid residential and hotel base and a hospital and post office. It also had a school, theatre, and even a casino. Before long, the town had become a pinnacle of luxury.
Residents had trains transport water all the way from Cape Town to water their home gardens. An ice factory was built on-site to produce local lemonade.
The mine went to great lengths to entertain residents, including funding visits by musical and theatrical troupes from Europe who performed on the local stage. As recorded in the memories of former residents, in Kolmanskop, extravagance knew no bounds, and champagne flowed like rivers. One resident reportedly had a domesticated ostrich that, during the Christmas season, was harnessed to a sleigh for rides.
The town gradually declined, becoming entirely deserted by the early 1950s. Worse, it might soon vanish, engulfed by the desert. Over time, the once-modern buildings have been buried by sand creeping through unsecured doors and windows.
Second life of the "Ghost Town"
In 2002, Ghost Town Tours, a company that organizes tours to abandoned sites, was permitted to transform Kolmanskop into a tourist destination. Since then, visitors from worldwide have been able to explore the "Ghost Town".
Kolmanskop is open to visitors daily from 9 AM to 2 PM GMT. To gain entry, one must buy a ticket, thus obtaining special permission. Visitors can explore the site on their own or opt for an hour-long guided tour, during which the guide recounts the town's past and tragic history.
Visitors can also purchase an all-day entry ticket, permitting photography of Kolmanskop during sunrise or sunset. Entrance fees, depending on the option chosen, range from approximately £2.65 to £18.50.
The easiest way to reach the "Ghost Town" is by flying to the nearby town of Lüderitz, a roughly fifteen-minute drive away. Those planning to visit Kolmanskop should be aware that the tour is at their own risk. The abandoned and sand-engulfed buildings are not maintained, and the risk of collapse has increased over time.
