Kolmanskop – Ghost Town in the Namib
Diamond Mining Town Reclaimed by the African Desert
Jun 4, 2009
Of the several diamond-mining ghost towns that litter the south of Namibia, Kolmanskop is probably the best known. Easily accessible, it affords visitors an informative glimpse into the diamond rush of the early 1900's.
Diamond Discovery Founded Kolmanskop Town
In April 1908, Zacharias Lewala worked on the railway line between Aus and Lüderitz. Performing his duties, he came across a shiny stone, which he subsequently showed to his superior, August Stauch. Stauch, suspecting the stone to be a diamond, immediately obtained a prospecting license before he presented the stone to be officially verified. This started a diamond rush to the area and Stauch based his operations at Kolmanskop.
According to Willie & Sandra Olivier in The African Adventurer's Guide to Namibia, Struik Publishers (Pty) Ltd, 2003, the first structures erected in Kolmanskop were German imported prefabricated buildings clad with corrugated iron. Impressive, solid brick and mortar buildings later replaced these temporary structures. In less than two years after the discovery by Zacharias Lewala, the booming mining town of Kolmanskop was born, complete with casino, skittle alley, hospital, shop and even a lemonade and sodawater factory.
Condensers Were Used to Desalinate Seawater at Kolmanskop
The desert town of Kolmanskop lacked fresh water for human consumption. Even the nearby town of Lüderitz had to have fresh water shipped in or transported over land to meet the needs of the growing prospecting community. A pump station at Garub, about 100 kilometers away supplied some water, while barrels of water were shipped from Cape Town in South Africa to Lüderitz from where it was carried by mules through the desert to Kolmanskop.
Another method to supply the town with water was by using a 28 kilometer long pipeline from Elizabethbucht to pump seawater to the the condensers in Kolmanskop where the water were desalinated for use.
Diamond Mining at Kolmanskop
Diamonds were abundant during the early days of mining at Kolmanskop. In the nearby Itadel Valley, stones were so accessible that prospectors with no mining equipment could collect stones on a moonlit night by crawling on their hands and knees. This lead to the miners employed by the operations at Kolmanskop being put through rigorous security measures to ensure they didn’t keep some of the diamonds gathered for themselves. In the Kolmanskop Museum, photos of miners crawling on their stomachs in the moonlight to collect the stones can still be seen.
During September 1908, a Sperrgebiet (forbidden zone) was declared to control mining operations. The Sperrgebiet extended 360 kilometers northwards of the Orange River and 100 kilometers inland. In 1909, a central diamond market was established.
Consolidated Diamond Mines (CDM) had their headquarters at Kolmanskop until 1943 after which operations moved to Oranjemund. In 1950 all mining operations ceased at Kolmanskop and the last person left the town six years later.
What to See at Kolmanskop in Namibia Today
Visitors may visit Kolmanskop by obtaining a permit from Lüderitz Safari's and Tours in Bismarck Street, Lüderitz. Two one-hour long morning tours are offered daily from Monday to Friday where tourists are treated to the history of Kolmanskop. In the Kolmanskop Museum, mining implements are on display and an extensive collection of photos transports tourists back in time to the glory days when mining was still in full swing.
The shopkeepers house, the restored mine captain's house, the butchery, gym and bowling alley are well worth visiting and the small locomotive which delivered water to all the houses is still in good condition. After completion of the guided tour, visitors can explore the area without a guide or enjoy refreshments in the restaurant, which is decorated with old antique furniture from the ghost town itself.
A diamond room, located in the restored Smoke room, affords visitors the chance to buy diamonds ranging in price from N$500-00 upwards. The stones sold are single cut and polished locally by NAMGEM, the cutting factory in Okahanja. The diamonds are sold with a grading report to ensure buyers are familiar with the characteristics of the diamonds they purchase.
Photo permits, allowing visitors to photograph the town at dawn and dusk, may be obtained from Lüderitz Safari's and Tours in Bismarck Street in Lüderitz. Commercial photography may only be undertaken with the permission of Ghost Town Tours.
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