Kolmanskop, Namibia: The Ghost Town for Your Bucket List

Once a booming diamond mining town, Kolmanskop, Namibia now stands as a hauntingly beautiful ghost town in the Namib Desert. Abandoned to the shifting sands, its eerie yet captivating ruins attract photographers, history lovers, and curious travelers alike. 

Kolmanskop was once one of the richest towns in Africa, boasting grand European-style architecture, a hospital, and even a casino. However, after the diamond rush faded in the 1950s, the town became abandoned.

A visit to Kolmanskop offers more than just abandoned buildings—it’s a glimpse into Namibia’s diamond mining history and a chance to learn about the country's past, as well as offer some unique opportunities for photographers. We had the chance to visit in 2024, and are here to share what it's all about.

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Kolmanskop, Namibia: a Brief Intro

Kolmanskop has such a unique history, and before going into the details of visiting today, we're going to share some fun facts about this hauntingly beautiful ghost town.

Why is Kolmanskop, Namibia Abandoned?

Kolmanskop, Namibia, was abandoned in the 1950s after diamond resources had been depleted and miners moved to richer deposits elsewhere. Harsh desert conditions quickly took over the once-thriving town, burying much of it in sand.

Are There Still Diamonds in Kolmanskop?

While some diamonds may still be buried in the area, mining is no longer active in Kolmanskop. The region remains under strict control, with access to surrounding diamond zones restricted.

Where is Kolmanskop, Namibia?

Kolmanskop is located in the Namib Desert of southern Namibia, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the coastal town of Lüderitz.

Kolmanskop, Namibia: Cost & Hours

Now that you know the different options for how to visit Kolmanskop, let's go over the hours you can visit, and the price tag that comes with it.

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 When Can You Visit Kolmanskop Ghost Town?

Kolmanskop is open daily from 8 am to 1 pm for regular ticket guests. You don't need a reservation, but can book tickets online if you would rather pay with a credit card.

There are also special day passes that are available, which grants special access to the area from sunrise to sunset (6:00 am- 7:00 pm).

 Guided Tours at Kolmanskop

Aside from the regular tickets and the day passes, visitors can join guided tours, which are 45-60 minutes, and are offered in English and in German.

• Monday – Saturday: 9:30 am and 11:00 am
• Sundays/Public Holidays: 10:00 am

If you are a group of 6 or more, you can join one of the pre-arranged guided tours, or you can prebook for you own time slot. Just make sure you clikc on "group bookings" on the website.

Additionally, you can go on your own self-guided tour. There is an app that you can download once your there that offers the first part for free, or you can have access to the full audio guide, which we've linked below:

 How Much Does Visiting Kolmanskop, Namibia Cost?

There are three different tickets that you can get for visiting Kolmanskop, Namibia:

• General Admission: N$ 150 per adult and N$70 per child 6-14 years old, allowing access from 8 am to 1 pm. 
• Day Pass: N$ 400 per person, allowing special access from 6 am to 7 pm -  (After obtaining the permit you will get a gate access code.)
• Organized Group Tour: $N 250 per person (between 6-29 people)

General admission is N$ 150 per person and allows access from 8 am to 1 pm.

Kolmanskop, Namibia: Experiencing the Ghost Town

Kolmanskop, Namibia may have been a town before, but now it is a unique tourist site that allows visitors to learn about the ghost town on guided tours, or by wandering around on their own.

When we visited we missed the guided tours, so we downloaded the app and were able to listen to the free guided audio tour - that is for the first part. After the first couple of rooms you have to pay to unlock the rest, so you may as well get the full guided tour, or download the audio guide in advance.

The starting point of exploring Kolmanskop is in the casino, which is the same building as where you'll find the shop and the tavern.

From here you'll go into a room with various informational boards. This is also part of the audio tour, and you'll have time to read about the history of Kolmanskop.

After exiting the casino, you'll have a variety of other buildings to check out. Many are abandoned and full of sand, while others have been transformed into informational locations.

There are over a dozen different buildings that made up the town like a hospital, butchery, bakery, and houses of the residents you can explore. Some buildings have rooms set up as models of what they used to be like, while others were simply empty and you can go see the old wallpaper and wooden floors remaining.

We particularly loved the abandoned buildings, as they felt eerie and were really cool for photography.

Don't miss out on the museum, that has some stunning photographs framed throughout it! There's also a small boutique shop inside with gorgeous clothing and accessories by local businesses.

We spent a few hours exploring Kolmanskop, and definitely would love to do a full guided tour next time to get further insight to this unique ghost town and ex diamond haven.

Other Things to Keep in Mind for Visiting Kolmanskop, Namibia

Now you are almost ready to visit the unique ghost town of Kolmanskop, Namibia! But don't go just yet - we have a few more things for you to know that you may find helpful.

 Weather in Southern Namibia

Southern Namibia has hot and sunny summers, and mild, windy winter days with chilly nights. Being near the coast in the desert brings a unique weather pattern, with a lot of wind moving the sand around.

The Best Time to Visit Kolmanskop, Namibia

The best time to visit Kolmanskop is definitely sunrise or sunset, so that you can get beautiful lighting. 

Stay during golden hour so you can also get cool shots of the sun rays entering the buildings, and we'd also recommend staying until the late morning to check out the tavern and the gift shop, as well as doing one of the morning tours.

 How to Prepare for Visiting Kolmanskop

You won't need to bring much on your visit to Kolmanskop, other than some water, comfy shoes, and photo gear. However, if you do stay for several hours, or are visiting outside the normal hours, we do have a few recommendations.

Here are some other the things we'd suggest bringing:

• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Hat to protect yourself from the sun
• Light jacket if you are visiting the winter and go for sunrise or sunset
• Reusable water bottle (we suggest one that is insulated to hold the temperature)
• Flash light for visiting around sunrise or sunset
• Power Bank (we use Anker power banks as they are super long lasting and durable)
• Camera (we use the Sony A7Riii)
• Standard Lens for a diverse range (we use the Sony GM 24-70)
• Wide Lens to capture cool shots inside the buildings (we use the Sony GM 14 F1.8)
• Tripod to get pictures while no one is around (We use the Rangepod Tripod)
• Action Camera in replacement of a drone (we use the Insta 360 X3)
• Extra Long Selfie Stick (the accessory for the Insta 360 that gives drone-like content)
• Snacks if you are visiting before 8 or after 1.
  

Is Kolmanskop Worth Visiting?

Kolmanskop is really interesting, but it is also super far from many of the other top attractions in Namibia! We'd recommend to make your trip to Kolmanskop worth it to stay a day in Lüderitz and do a penguin catamaran excursion, or do one of the other fun activities nearby.

We spent a night at Klein Aus Vista, and they also have some nice activities out in nature over there worth checking out.

If we were to go again we'd definitely do the day pass and go there for sunrise or sunset for more unique photo opportunities.

So are you ready to experience the unique ghost town of Kolmanskop, Namibia? We hope our guide has helped you with all of the info you need, and are happy to help with any questions you may still have. Just drop them in the comments below!

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