After becoming one of the richest towns in Africa during a diamond boom in 1910, Kolmanskop was left by all inhabitants in the following decades. Kolmanskop become a ghost town in the desert.
Situated only 15 km east of the harbour town of Luderitz, Kolmanskop used to be a small railway station in 1908, when the railway between Luderitz and Keetmanshoop was built. As far as legend has it the station derived its name from a Nama man named Coleman, who got stuck at the site with his ox waggon and consequently died of thirst.
In 1908 the railway worker Zacharias Lewala found a shiny stone and took it to the chief railway foreman August Stauch. Stauch had been stationed at the station Grasplatz with the instruction to keep the railway line clear of sand. They successfully continued their search for diamonds.
Nevertheless the occurrence of diamonds did not stay a secret for long. Within two years at a rapid speed an unparalleled town development took place: within a few years Kolmanskop become the richest town in Africa and one of the richest towns worldwide.
As from 1911 the town had electric power, luxurious stone houses, a casino, a school, a hospital, an ice factory to produce ice for fridges, a theatre, a ballroom, a sport-hall, a bowling alley, a salt-water swimming pool and much more although less than 400 people lived here. The hospital had the first x-ray apparatus in Southern Africa installed. It probably also served to control workers, who might have swallowed diamonds.
In 1980 whilst Luderitz underwent an economic boom the touristic potential of the ghost town was rediscovered and some houses were dug out of the sands again and were restored, which are open for visitors.
Today interesting and very informative guided tours in English, German and Afrikaans are offered. The tours start 09h30 and 11h00 from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and public holidays there is only one tour which starts at 10h00.
“Perhaps the most notable (and recently most photographable) of Namibia’s landmarks is the Ghost Town, Kolmanskop, a must-see on every trip to Namibia.”