Namibia's main rock formations
Petrified forests, organ pipes, meteorites, a finger stone and the place where giants played - these are some of the special rock formations that can be seen in Namibia.
"Namibia, with its very old, complex geological history displayed on magnificent peaks, is a geologist's paradise," writes Lon Abbot and Terri Cook in GeoExPro magazine.
Indeed, Namibia boasts several special geological wonders and breath-taking rock formations.
Note, the article is for information only and the onus is on the reader to obtain the proper permission and documentation to visit the places.
WÜSTENQUELL
Wüstenquell, with its fascinating rock formations and views, San drawings, seven fountains and quiver trees, is a special experience.
It is a private nature reserve just outside Karibib on the edge of the Namib desert, and surrounded by enormous granite rock formations, consisting of feldspar, quartz and mica. This is the place in the world where most of the types of rock formations are found per km2.
While it borders the Namib Naukluft park, it is also the closest stopover to the Welwitschia plains on the way to Swakopmund.
Similar rock formations can also be seen along the dirt road between Henties Bay and the town's old salt mine - although only the most observant eye will notice them.
BOGENFEL
Bogenfels is a remarkable rock arch approximately 95 km south of Lüderitz and 32 km south of Pomona – in the Sperrgebiet of Namibia. This means it can only be reached with officially guided tours by tour guides from Lüderitz, apart from being difficult to reach.
However, Bogenfels is a natural wonder and gets its name from a German word meaning 'rock arch'. The highest point of the arch is 55 m above sea level, it stands with one foot in the Atlantic Ocean and the other in the sand of the Namib Desert. It is also home to another one of Namibia's "ghost towns", which was initially built thanks to the diamonds in the area, but was evacuated after 1950 and became a ghost town.
RED STONE AND GROTTO
Rooiklip Guesthouse has three campsites that can best be described as a campsite inside a hollow mountain, or one under a massive rock overhang.
The rock formations are located southwest of Windhoek at the foot of Gamsberg. These campsites are strongly reminiscent of the Grotto in the Namib Naukluft National park, just a little further, because it also forms a type of "hollow mountain".
A grotto is a natural or artificial cave used by humans in both modern times and antiquity, and historically or prehistorically.
However, the Grotto is formed of white stone formations and large enough to park several vehicles inside. In the area there are also many other giant, impressive hills and rock formations to be seen.
VINGERKLIP
The Vingerklip, which is located about 80 km south-west of Outjo or 50 km east of Khorixas in the north-west of the country, towers about 929 m above sea level. Yet the stone itself is only about 38m high with a circumference of 44m at its base.
Since the very famous Mukurob fell in 1988, the Vingerklip has largely taken its place as the main rock formation of its kind in the country.
PETRIFIED FOREST
The north-east of the country also hosts the Petrified Forest - about 50 km west of Khorixas.
This is a collection of enormous, petrified tree trunks that are around 280 million years old. Scientists have determined that the trees were washed away in a river millions of years ago when one of the many ice ages on the Gondwana continent came to an end.
The trees were then covered by sand and mud and put under enormous pressure for millions of years - so much so that they petrified. Wind, weather and water finally exposed the tree trunks again.
ORGAN PIPES
In the Brandberg-Twyfelfontein, you should also not miss the so-called "organ pipes" - massive and ancient rock formations that were also formed on the Gondwana continent.
As you drive towards the Brandberg from Khorixas, you will find a road to the Organ Pipes on the left, just before you reach the mountain. Follow the road to the magical "organ pipe valley" that formed about 150 million years ago.
HOBA METEORITE
The Hoba meteorite, named after the farm Hoba-Wes where it was discovered, can be seen just outside Grootfontein. As far as is known, it is the largest meteorite still in one piece.
The name "Hoba" comes from a Khoekhoegowab word meaning "gift". Due to the meteorite's heavy weight of an estimated 60 tons, it has never been able to be moved from where it fell.
It is about twice the size of the largest fragment of either the Cape York meteorite's 31-ton Ahnighito held in Manhattan or the Campo del Cielo's 31-ton Gancedo in Argentina.
The Hoba meteorite’s impact is thought to have occurred less than 80 000 years ago.
OTHER
Special rock drawings as well as even more interesting rock formations can be seen at Twyfelfontein and the Spitzkoppe respectively. Further south you can also see the impressive "Playground of the giants" between the quiver trees, about 14 km northeast of Keetmanshoop - something that was also formed about 180 million years ago.
Sources: www.info-namibia.com, www.geoexpro.com, www.gondwana-collection.com, www.namibia-accommodation.com.
"Namibia, with its very old, complex geological history displayed on magnificent peaks, is a geologist's paradise," writes Lon Abbot and Terri Cook in GeoExPro magazine.
Indeed, Namibia boasts several special geological wonders and breath-taking rock formations.
Note, the article is for information only and the onus is on the reader to obtain the proper permission and documentation to visit the places.
WÜSTENQUELL
Wüstenquell, with its fascinating rock formations and views, San drawings, seven fountains and quiver trees, is a special experience.
It is a private nature reserve just outside Karibib on the edge of the Namib desert, and surrounded by enormous granite rock formations, consisting of feldspar, quartz and mica. This is the place in the world where most of the types of rock formations are found per km2.
While it borders the Namib Naukluft park, it is also the closest stopover to the Welwitschia plains on the way to Swakopmund.
Similar rock formations can also be seen along the dirt road between Henties Bay and the town's old salt mine - although only the most observant eye will notice them.
BOGENFEL
Bogenfels is a remarkable rock arch approximately 95 km south of Lüderitz and 32 km south of Pomona – in the Sperrgebiet of Namibia. This means it can only be reached with officially guided tours by tour guides from Lüderitz, apart from being difficult to reach.
However, Bogenfels is a natural wonder and gets its name from a German word meaning 'rock arch'. The highest point of the arch is 55 m above sea level, it stands with one foot in the Atlantic Ocean and the other in the sand of the Namib Desert. It is also home to another one of Namibia's "ghost towns", which was initially built thanks to the diamonds in the area, but was evacuated after 1950 and became a ghost town.
RED STONE AND GROTTO
Rooiklip Guesthouse has three campsites that can best be described as a campsite inside a hollow mountain, or one under a massive rock overhang.
The rock formations are located southwest of Windhoek at the foot of Gamsberg. These campsites are strongly reminiscent of the Grotto in the Namib Naukluft National park, just a little further, because it also forms a type of "hollow mountain".
A grotto is a natural or artificial cave used by humans in both modern times and antiquity, and historically or prehistorically.
However, the Grotto is formed of white stone formations and large enough to park several vehicles inside. In the area there are also many other giant, impressive hills and rock formations to be seen.
VINGERKLIP
The Vingerklip, which is located about 80 km south-west of Outjo or 50 km east of Khorixas in the north-west of the country, towers about 929 m above sea level. Yet the stone itself is only about 38m high with a circumference of 44m at its base.
Since the very famous Mukurob fell in 1988, the Vingerklip has largely taken its place as the main rock formation of its kind in the country.
PETRIFIED FOREST
The north-east of the country also hosts the Petrified Forest - about 50 km west of Khorixas.
This is a collection of enormous, petrified tree trunks that are around 280 million years old. Scientists have determined that the trees were washed away in a river millions of years ago when one of the many ice ages on the Gondwana continent came to an end.
The trees were then covered by sand and mud and put under enormous pressure for millions of years - so much so that they petrified. Wind, weather and water finally exposed the tree trunks again.
ORGAN PIPES
In the Brandberg-Twyfelfontein, you should also not miss the so-called "organ pipes" - massive and ancient rock formations that were also formed on the Gondwana continent.
As you drive towards the Brandberg from Khorixas, you will find a road to the Organ Pipes on the left, just before you reach the mountain. Follow the road to the magical "organ pipe valley" that formed about 150 million years ago.
HOBA METEORITE
The Hoba meteorite, named after the farm Hoba-Wes where it was discovered, can be seen just outside Grootfontein. As far as is known, it is the largest meteorite still in one piece.
The name "Hoba" comes from a Khoekhoegowab word meaning "gift". Due to the meteorite's heavy weight of an estimated 60 tons, it has never been able to be moved from where it fell.
It is about twice the size of the largest fragment of either the Cape York meteorite's 31-ton Ahnighito held in Manhattan or the Campo del Cielo's 31-ton Gancedo in Argentina.
The Hoba meteorite’s impact is thought to have occurred less than 80 000 years ago.
OTHER
Special rock drawings as well as even more interesting rock formations can be seen at Twyfelfontein and the Spitzkoppe respectively. Further south you can also see the impressive "Playground of the giants" between the quiver trees, about 14 km northeast of Keetmanshoop - something that was also formed about 180 million years ago.
Sources: www.info-namibia.com, www.geoexpro.com, www.gondwana-collection.com, www.namibia-accommodation.com.
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