It stands in the middle of the desert with its 1,728 meters of height, is over 700 million years old and houses rock paintings of the Bushmen: it is the Spitzkoppe, the Matterhorn of Namibia.
Certainly, one of the most photographed subjects in Namibia. Also, because it can hardly go unnoticed, rising into the surrounding nothingness. And so, mountaineering enthusiasts can find satisfaction even in the desert.
Spitzkoppe is located about 120 kilometers northeast of the nearest town, Swakopmund, and is only 30 kilometers away from the B2, the highway that connects Usakos and Swakopmund.
In reality, the Spitzkoppe is made up of two separate massifs: the large Spitzkoppe, 1728 meters high, and the small Spitzkoppe, which reaches 1584 meters. Further to the west, we can also find the Pontok Mountains.
For hikers and climbers, it represents a mirage in the desert. Beginners can practice on accessible walls, while pro's can tackle the real challenge on the west side: only six hundred attempts have succeeded from 1946 to date. Not least because of the unbearable heat of the summer months.
Those who are not passionate about climbing can still enjoy the hundreds of cave paintings, even if many finds have been damaged by incomprehensible acts of vandalism. A curious fact: there are numerous depictions of rhinos, showing that the beasts must have roamed freely in the area ages ago.
Photo opp under the Rock Arch, a famous rock formation that has been the backdrop for numerous films and that stands out on all the calendars and travel guides of Namibia.
Author: The Slowear Journal