The Spitzkoppe

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The Spitzkoppe which is also referred to as Spitzkop, Groot Spitzkop, or the "Matterhorn ” is a group of bald granite peaks located between Usakos and Swakopmund in the Namib Desert . The granite is more than 700 million years old and the highest outcrop rises about 1784 meters above sea level . The peaks stand out dramatically from the flat surrounding plains. The highest peak is about 700m above the floor of the desert below. A minor peak called the Little Spitzkoppe lies nearby at an elevation of 1584 meters above sea level. Many examples of Bushmen artwork can be seen painted on the rock in the Spitzkoppe area.

THE SPITZKOPPE

A team of climbers from Cape Town , led by S. le Roux, made the first documented climb. The next party was O'Neil, Shipley and Schaff who pioneered a route up the northern extremes of the peak, after having failed on the southwest ridge. They gained access to the gully now known as the "scramble" but ran out of time to attempt the final faces. Four days later they made another attempt but finally gave up. Some of the earliest climbers, defeated by an extraordinarily smooth band of granite only about 3m high, resorted to carving steps into the rock with a hammer and chisel.

Above the mist

By - lorenz.s

Spitzkoppe Sunset

By - Marco Fran

After the rain

By - qspics

Under the Arch

By -reisezweier

Miracle

By - Fernand Metzger

Any ascent of the peak involves exposed and delicate rock climbing of a very high standard. While the standard route up the peak is not severely difficult in modern technical terms, it presented quite a formidable undertaking in the earlier days. This, due to the isolation of the peak combined with the heat of the desert and of course the lack of water.

It is possible that the main peak was summited before the First World War as early as 1904, when a soldier of the Royal Schutztruppe supposedly climbed the peak on his own and made a fire on the summit. What he may have burned remains a mystery still today, as there is absolutely no natural fuel of any kind on the upper parts of the, pure rock, peak. The legend suggests that he never returned and that his body was never recovered. Until today no proof of his conquest has been found and the story remains to be a mystery.

Rock Arch

By - demon piccolo

Bushmen Paradise

By - ToNirvana

Flat Face

By - Eddie Harvey

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See the Spitzkoppe area with Google Maps

Easy to navigate just read the instructions on the left.

A few months later Hans and Else Wong and Jannie de Villiers Graaf arrived and they reached the summit around noon in November 1946. For the next quarter of a century the mountain maintained its reputation of presenting a two- or three-day struggle to potential climbers.

This era came to an end in 1971, when the peak was climbed in four hours by a party led by J. W. Marchant from the University of Cape Town Mountain and Ski Club. Included were the talented South African climber Gabriel Athiros and Oliver Stansfield from England. This team scaled all of the lower pitches without ropes and got through the difficult band without using the artificial steps hacked into the granite. They descended from the peak in two hours and as they reached the base rain began to fall for the first time in over a year, a great prize for a great feat.

The Spitzkoppe is truly one of the most beautiful places in Namibia. Sunset and sunrise are something really worth seeing and the peace and quiet in the evenings is such an experience especially after a long hot day.

Some bird species found in the area

There are well over 200 bird species that have been recorded in the Spitzkoppe area, I've listed some species below.

Some animals found in this area

The photograph of the leopard above was taken at the Spitzkoppe, what an amazing photie. I have listed some of the animals you're likely to see in this area. Some of them you're only likely to see at night but keep your eyes peeled because nature is full of surprises.