SOUTHERN NAMIBIA © Rapids Andstarksurrounds
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© Lonely Planet 340 Southern Namibia SOUTHERN NAMIBIA Although the tourist trail in Namibia firmly swings north towards Etosha National Park, the deserts of Southern Namibia sparkle beneath the sun – quite literally – as they’re filled with millions of carats of diamonds. Since the Germans first unearthed vast treasure troves resting beneath the sands, much of the region has been dubbed the Sperrgebeit (Forbid- den Area). Following the very recent declaration of Namibia’s newest national park, this virtually pristine biodiversity hotspot is now open to the general public for the first time in more than a century. While Sperrgebeit National Park has been grabbing all the headlines recently, the nearby port of Lüderitz has long been a traveller’s favourite. A surreal colonial relic that has largely disregarded the 21st century, Lüderitz clings fiercely to its European roots, astounding travel- lers with traditional German architecture set against a backdrop of fiery sand dunes and deep blue seas. Heading inland into the parched interior, the incongruous Old World grandeur of Duwisib Castle provides further evidence of past European conquest and occupation. Southern Namibia is also a veritable paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of ad- venture sports alike. Regarded as one of the largest canyons in the world, as well as one of the most spectacular sights in the whole of Africa, Fish River Canyon poses a monumental challenge to hikers and trekkers. The region is also home to the Orange River, which forms the border between Namibia and South Africa, and is famous for its raging white-water rapids and stark surrounds. HIGHLIGHTS Watching the dunes slowly retake the ghost town of Kolmanskop in Sperrgebiet National Park ( p354 ) Dining on fresh crayfish and authentic sauer- kraut served with frothy pints of Hansa draught beer in the seaside town of Lüderitz ( p348 ) Duwisib Castle Hiking through Fish River Canyon National Park (p358 ), one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders Lüderitz Marvelling at the impossibly remote German Sperrgebiet National Park anachronism that is Duwisib Castle ( p346 ) Fish River Canyon National Park Exploring the winding bends of the Orange River (p362 ) by canoe, kayak or raft Orange River lonelyplanet.com SOUTHERN NAMIBIA 341 SOUTHERN NAMIBIA 0 100 km SOUTHERN NAMIBIA 0 60 miles WINDHOEK Tsaobis ACB 1 6 D Neuheusis C22 Brack Keitsas Witwatersberge l and Aris 12 Doreenville C20 C28 ch Dordabis (1861m) Ho Arnhem Nina as C23 Cave om 3 h Us Kowas ὈὈὈ1 K B1 ὄὄ Klein Nauas 18 Gamsberg Rehoboth C25 Leonardville C26 Isabis C23 Tropic of Capricorn River Aminuis B O T S W A N Gaub Derm C20 Kobos Uhlenhorst Nauchas C22 C14 B1 Olifants Nossob Klein Aub Hoachanas Oorwinning Remhoogte Nauzerus Hoop Pass C15 Bosduin Solitaire C21 River ὈὈ Schlip Lidfontein Diep River Rietoog Kalkrand C20 Kalf River Aranos River Büllsport Kuis Naomi 2 Gamis Stampriet Middelpos Naukluft Naukluft Hardap Dam Auob Goricia Mountains C14 C21 Recreation 15 Witvley Sukses Nomtsas River Resort & Akanous Nadaus River Sesriem Tsau hab Game Park N a m i b c Mariental C18 Lendepas D e s e r t Voigtsgrund Maltahöhe C19 River Gochas ὈὈSossusvleiὈTsarishoogte ὈὈRiver Ὀ Pass Kalkhugel Hûdup Lewer Witberg Fish Witbooisvlei Steinfeld Bossiesvlei (426m) Gibeon Gibeon 20 River Station Bulwana Persip Bushman B1 Eindpaal Hill NamibRand C14 Aurus Twee Nature Rivier Chowagasberg Reserve 2 Asab (2063m) Mukurob C15 3 Eidsemub Tirasberge Wegdraai Awassibberg Spes Brukkaros Bona Huams Lichtenfels Station (1752m) Katzies ὈὈὈSchwarzerberg Brukkaros Ὀ (1922m) (1586m) 7 C98 Tses Shirley Koës Namib-Naukluft Helmeringhausen Park Mooifontein Berseba C17 C11 Garinais 19 C13 C14 Kubis Koi Konkiep chab Kokerboom North River Neisip Forest Gaibis Kirchberg Aris 4 Gross Giant's Aub (1139m) Garub Pan Playground Blumtal 21 wild horse Bethanie Keetmanshoop C16 viewing hide ὈὈ Fort Ὀ B4 Aus Naiams River 4 Goageb Seeheim Aroab Lüderitz H B4 u River 22 Löwen Kolmanskop 16 i b Aukam Narubis Augub -H Naute Nordeck o Vredeshoop c Elizabeth Bay (1490m) h 13 Dam P s Rooipunt n la i t a Gross e 11 t C13 au Gondwana B1 n Pomona Münzenberg u Tsaraxaibis Cañon Park o (720m) Hope 10 M 8 C11 ὈὈὈὈὈHobas ὈDavignab 23 Diamond Area 1 & 1417 C12 Bogenfels Sperrgebiet National Park Karas F Witputs 9 o (Restricted Access) Grünau r Hunsberge b River Nanzes i d Rooiberg d Fish River Canyon e (1122m) River Nuwefontein n Chamais National Park Fish C10 Karasburg 5 b C Rosh Pinah Nama cha B3 o Ai-Ais am a Boegoeberg Canyon G Ariamsvlei s t (502m) Selingsdrif Ham River River Richtersveld River A T L A N T I C ὈὈὈNational Aussenkehr Warmbad Ὀ O C E A N Park Haib Orange S O U T H Oranjemund Velloorsdrift 5 A F R I C A SIGHTS & ACTIVITIESAlexander Bay Noordoewer Hom River Onseepkans N River Pella Mission 14 O nge Station Dorka Teppiche Weavery....................1 C1 Vioolsdrif ra Duwisib Castle....................................2 B3 Farm Ibenstein Weavery......................3 B1 Cañon Roadhouse............................N 10 C5 Klein-Aus Vista.................................16 A4 Cañon Village..................................(see7 9) Koelkrans Camp...............................Pofadder 17 B5 6 SLEEPING ὈCanyon Nature Park.........................11 C4 Lake Oanob Resort...........................18 B1 Port Nolloth //Garas Park......................................4 C4 Duwisib Castle Rest Camp................(seeSteinkopf 2) Namtib Biosphere Reserve................19 A4 Abiqua Camp.....................................5 B6 Eningu Clay House Lodge.................12 C1 Nubib Nature Lodge.........................20 A3 Arnhem Cave Guesthouse..................6 C1 Farm Duwisib...................................(see 2) Provenance Camp Unite...................(see 5) Brukkaros Campsite ...........................7 B3 Fish River Guest Farm.......................13 C4 Quivertree Forest Rest Camp...........21 C4 Cañon Lodge.....................................8 C5 Grande View Lodge..........................14 B5 Seeheim Hotel..................................22 C4 Cañon Mountain Camp.....................9 C5 Hardap Dam Rest Camp...................15 C2 White House Rest Camp..................23 C5.