Somewhere hidden far away in the Namib desert, lies Spitzkoppe aka the Matterhorn of Namibia. A group of 700 million old unique granite peaks arising from the horizon, with the highest being 700 meters from the ground, creating phenomenal views. No wonder it’s been seen as one of the most beautiful campsites in the world – and it definitely lives up to its expectations! Spitzkoppe Campsite is world-famous, especially among photographers. Read here why and all the essential tips for visiting Spitzkoppe Campsite.
About Spitzkoppe Campsite & The Community
Spitzkoppe Area is locally owned by the community ever since multiple Damara families have been moved here in the 1970s. Since then, the Spitzkoppe Community, existing of about 500 people, has lived here trying to create an existence of livestock farming, small mining, and selling small creations to tourists.
In 2012, there has been an official agreement to create and manage Spitzkoppe Campsite, wherefore a N$ 1 million investment has been made to upgrade the existing infrastructure.
Spitzkoppe Campsite
Camping Spots
In total, Spitzkoppe Campsite counts 31 campsites scattered throughout the reserve, all located far away from each other. This is one of the main features of why this campsite is so famous as it gives you a private feeling, to fully enjoy the remoteness of Spitzkoppe Campsite.
Upon arrival, you’ll receive a map of the reserve with all the locations from the campsites. You may want to drive around a bit to see where you want to set up your tent.
Choosing your Camping Spot
Select your spot wisely, based on your plans. For us, we preferred to camp close to the rock arch as we wanted to stay there for sunset and within walking distance.
Choosing a spot with enough shadow is key against the Namibian heat. Reserving a specific spot in advance is not possible, so arrive as early as possible at the reserve to get the best spot!
Facilities at Spitzkoppe Campsite
Toilets & Showers
Every camping spot has its own toilet but no running water, however, there are daily cleaning services on all campsites. The only flushable toilets are found at the park’s entrance, next to warm water showers.
Restaurant
There’s a small restaurant with breakfast, small lunches & dinner at the entrance of the reserve, on a pre-booking basis. Bookings are made at the park entrance.
Shop
Next to the entrance, you find a tiny shop with some essentials, but please don’t rely on this. Make sure to stock up on some food and water before heading towards Spitzkoppe, for example in Swakopmund.
How to book Spitzkoppe Campsite
Spitzkoppe Campsite is easily booked through the contact form on their website or by sending an e-mail to reservations@logufa.com
Entrance Fee for Day Visitors
When you’re not spending the night in Spitzkoppe, day visitors are allowed inside the park for a small fee. Entrance fee for adults is N$120 (€6) and for children N$80.
How to get to Spitzkoppe Campsite
Namibia has terrible cellphone service which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it creates the perfect opportunity to take a step back, slow down and fully be present to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Namibia. However, you may rely on your maps while driving.
We either used our pre-downloaded maps from Google Maps or Maps.me. After a 2-hour drive from Swakopmund, we reached Spitzkoppe and from Windhoek, it’s 3 hours. When you’re coming from the north it takes around 2,5 hours from Brandweg or 5 hours from Palmwag.
Directions
If you’re coming from Swakopmund, these are the directions to take:
Take the B2 from Swakopmund towards Usakos. 40km before Usakos turn left onto the D1918 towards Hentjies Bay. After 18km turn right onto the D3716 and drive a further 11km.
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On a Tour to Spitzkoppe
Self-drive trips throughout Namibia are not for everyone. Luckily, there are many tour operators offering tours to Spitzkoppe from Windhoek or Swakopmund.
Check out this tour from Swakopmund with other stops along the way!
Use Viator to find all the best tours in Namibia!
Best time to visit Spitzkoppe
Located in the Namib desert, you may not want to camp at Spitzkoppe Campsite during the year’s hottest days. The best months to visit Spitzkoppe are between May – September with bare temperatures making it enjoyable for hiking.
Things to do in Spitzkoppe
- Rock Arch
- Rock Paintings
- Stargazing
- Spotting Wildlife
- Hiking
- Climbing
Rock Arch
Probably one of the most iconic places in the Spitzkoppe Area. This rock formation is often seen as a backdrop in many movies and has been featured in many travel guides! Visit the Spitzkoppe Rock Arch during sunrise or sunset for the best lighting and bearable temperatures.
Rock Paintings from the San people
A long time ago, the San people inhabited Spitzkoppe, who left their mark on the rocks in the form of rock paintings, which are still visible as we speak. These paintings date back thousands of years ago and are found all around the country.
To visit these sites, a guide is mandatory since there has been vandalism on the paintings. You can find a guide either at the reception or on-site. However, there may be no guide on site, please head back to the reception and don’t go check out the paintings on your own.
Stargazing
Namibia is one of Africa’s best spots for stargazing due to low light pollution in the air. Just make sure to go during the dry winter months of May – November for the best conditions.
Once the sun has set, grab yourself a drink, lean back, and let yourself be surprised by the majority of stars shining above you. It was the first time in my life that I saw so many bright stars. One of the most magical nights of my life!
Camera Settings for Astrophotography
If you have a professional camera and tripod with you, make sure to use these settings for astrophotography:
- Use Manual Mode
- Set file type on RAW
- F/2.8 or the lowest possible
- 30sec shutter speed (that’s why you need the tripod)
- ISO to 3200 or higher as preferred, you can get some grain, but you can remove a lot in postproduction
- Manuel Focus on the subject or brightest star
Play around with the settings a bit to see what works best for you and your camera. Some love to use a subject in the foreground, for example, a tree works beautifully, or even the rock arch at Spitzkoppe! Having any trouble focusing? Use a flashlight to point at the subject.
Spotting Wildlife
Spitzkoppe Reserve is home to a variety selection of birds, while the Herero Chat is most iconic to this region. Other birds to be found in Spitzkoppe include the Damara Red-billed Thornbill, the Rose-faced Lovebird, and the Booted Eagle.
Next to birds, other wildlife inhabits the Spitzkoppe area. For example, mountain zebras, dassies (lots of them!), the black mongoose and we even saw a Damara dik-dik close to the rock arch!
Hiking & Climbing
Spitzkoppe is the place in Namibia for hikers and climbers. There are several hiking trails found throughout the reserve and for either beginners or professionals, there are several climbing challenges. One of them is the iconic ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’, which is the highest peak of them all. Avoid the summer months in Namibia for climbing the peaks due to the unbearable heat.
Packing List
Some of you might be on a self-drive camping trip to Namibia and probably have these items already on the list. But for those doing a short or organized trip from one of the main cities, these are some unmissable items.
-
- Hiking boots
- Hat/Cap
- Warm jacket
- Insulated water bottle to keep water cold during hikes
- Powerbank
- Car charger
- Headlight – an absolute necessity as without this, setting up the tent, going to the toilet, or cooking is quite hard.
- Enough food & water for the entire trip
- Disinfection wipes & gel
- Sunscreen with SPF50
- Bug repellent
- Small first-aid kit
- Camera + Tripod (optional)
Other Accommodation in Spitzkoppe
Spitzkoppen Lodge offers everything you need for a luxury stay in the desert. For us, it was a birthday present and we wanted to spoil ourselves for the night. 🙂
Book your ultimate stay at Spitzkoppen Lodge here!
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