If you are on a road trip through the south of Namibia, you will sooner or later pass the town of Keetmanshoop. This originally German town was named after Johann Keetman and is an ideal base for travelers en route to Lüdertiz, Windhoek or the border with South Africa. In addition to being a convenient stopover town, there are many unique attractions in and around Keetmanshoop.

Quiver Tree Forest

Six miles outside the city is the Quiver Tree Forest. The desert tree Aloe dichotoma normally lives by itself, isolated from other trees and plants. Just outside Keetmanshoop, however, a forest has developed with more than two hundred and fifty quiver trees together. The forest is a feast for the eyes. The trees have the distinct branches and leaves that look like roots. This is why they are also called the upside down tree. Some trees in the forest are over two hundred years old.

The quiver tree was used by tribes to make weapons in the past. The branches of the quiver tree are hollow inside, so you can easily make a blowpipe out of it. According to legends, diamonds grow under the quiver trees. Whoever digs out the tree will be showered with diamonds. Nobody does, however, because according to that same legend, the trees bring good luck if you take good care of them.

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Giants Playground

Around the corner from Quiver Tree Forest is Giants Playground. Big rocks are piled up in a bizarre way here. These rocks, which seem to come straight out of a construction set, look as if a giant has been playing with them. That’s a great story, of course, but the real story is rough, too. These rocks are originally magma that ended up here and solidified. Over thousands of years, erosion has torn this uplifted magma and shaped it into the extraordinary blocks of Giants Playground. A footpath leads through the playground, taking you between the boulders. Along the way, keep an eye out for the lizards that live among them.

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Brukkaros Mountain

Are we talking magma? Then there must be a volcano somewhere. Indeed, on the north side of Keetmanshoop, about an hour’s drive away, stands the extinct volcano Brukkaros Mountain. The enormous crater, over 650 meters high, can be seen on Google Maps or from the plane. The volcano has been inactive for hundreds of years, since the magma and groundwater came into contact. The resulting explosions created the impressive crater and extinguished the volcano.

The foot of the Brukkaros can be reached by any car. If you have a 4×4, you can even drive up. The half-hour hike to the edge of the crater is worthwhile. Be sure to bring extra water, as there are no facilities at the volcano. Once on top of the volcano you will be treated to an unparalleled view from and inside the crater. No magma flows and explosions, but a calm, rocky landscape from which you can overlook the surrounding plains. During the walk you will encounter white crystals on the ground and the rocks around you glisten in the sunlight.

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Fish River Canyon

South of Keetmanshoop lies the little brother of The Grand Canyon: Fish River Canyon. This gorge, the second largest in the world, is – unlike its American counterpart – far from being overrun with tourists. The gorge has a length of 100 miles and is as much as 550 meters deep at some points. At the bottom of the canyon, a river meanders between the orange rocky landscape. Hiking the entire canyon is a considerable undertaking, and even with a guide it will take more than five days.

From Keetmanshoop, it is easy to arrange a tour to the canyon for several days. But if you only have a short time, you can also drive to the north side of the canyon. Several viewpoints have been created at Ai-Ais. Near these viewpoints, there are also natural hot springs to immerse yourself in. Although, after such a day in the sun, you might be looking for some cooling.

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