Exploring Namibia’s abandoned diamond town, where luxury once thrived and the desert now reigns.
NAMIBIA IS FULL OF HIDDEN GEMS, and one of the most intriguing I’ve discovered is Kolmanskop (often spelled Kolmaskop), a once-prosperous mining town now reclaimed by the desert. They say it was once the richest town in Africa — a claim that’s hard to believe when you see bathtubs and furniture half-buried in the endless sands. Yet here, in the Tsau-//Khaeb National Park (known as the Sperrgebiet, or “restricted area”), diamonds were discovered, sparking the rise of an entire community in the harsh, arid south of Namibia.
Walking through Kolmanskop feels like stepping into a fading memory. The desert wind drifts through abandoned houses where vibrant, old-fashioned paint still clings to the walls — greens and reds that were the height of fashion a century ago. Inside a former living room, I climbed miniature dunes and spotted a lone, rusted bathtub. I couldn’t resist the urge to lie down in it — imagine, in that very spot, someone once soaked away the day’s heat in total luxury!

Who might it have been? Perhaps a lady of the house, preparing herself for an elegant dinner, sipping an iced drink courtesy of the local ice factory (yes, they had an ice factory in the middle of the desert!). Or maybe it was the nurse from the local hospital, which proudly housed the first X-ray station in Africa — even the entire southern hemisphere. It’s astonishing to think that all these modern conveniences existed here a century ago, surrounded by nothing but scorching sand, relentless sandstorms, and absolutely no natural resources beyond the diamonds
buried in the dunes.
And yet, from those first diamonds discovered by railway workers in 1908, an entire society blossomed. A salt-water swimming pool, a bowling alley, and a bustling social scene flourished — despite the barren landscape. Wandering through the abandoned halls, I could almost hear laughter echoing off the peeling walls, picture the dinner parties in full swing, and sense the music and dancing that once filled the ballroom.
Now, what remains is a surreal scene of desert-choked houses and relics of a once-thriving community. It’s a poignant reminder that nature will eventually reclaim what we build, no matter how grand or unlikely the setting. For me, Kolmanskop offered more than just striking photographs; it sparked a profound reflection on human ambition, fleeting luxury, and the power of nature to take it all back.
If you have experienced a similar journey into the past, please share your story at deardiary@myeishanamibia.com.
Until next time,
From Sandra’s pen, Namibia
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