Kolmanskop- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Only 15 km east of the harbour town of Lüderitz, Kolmanskop stands as a striking testament to the ephemeral nature of human endeavors in the face of nature's relentless march. Originally a small railway station in 1908, Kolmanskop's history took a dramatic turn when railway worker Zacharias Lewala discovered a shiny stone that was later confirmed to be a diamond. This find sparked a diamond rush, transforming the area into one of the richest towns in Africa almost overnight. Kolmanskop rapidly evolved, boasting infrastructure that was unmatched at the time, including electric power, luxurious stone houses, a casino, a school, a hospital with southern Africa's first x-ray machine, an ice factory, a theatre, a ballroom, a sports hall, a bowling alley, and even a salt-water swimming pool. Despite its impressive infrastructure, the town's fortune was short-lived. By 1928, more profitable diamond sites had been discovered further south, leading to the gradual abandonment of Kolmanskop. By the mid-1950s, the town was completely deserted, and the relentless desert began reclaiming its territory. Today, Kolmanskop is a hauntingly beautiful ghost town, where visitors can wander through decaying buildings filled with sand, peeling paint, and caved-in roofs. The remnants of hospitals, houses, and shops stand as silent witnesses to the town's once-glorious past, offering a unique glimpse into a bygone era dominated by diamond fever.