The Matterhorn of Namibia, that’s how the granite mountain is sometimes referred to. We didn’t climbed the 1728 peak, it was not on our planning, and it was simply too hot. But we did see the Rock arch!
Cruising on the D1925 we could spot the mountain from afar. It has a peculiar shape and because the entire area is flat it looks like a massive pimple.
We stayed two nights in the spitzkoppen lodge, run by the Barnard family, which lies in the middle of the conservatory.
The whole area was given back to the Damaran community, just like the San they believe in communal ownership. So no individual ownership because God has given his land to everyone. Every year they review whether the lodge should be allowed to remain.
That’s the raison why the whole construction is minimal impact and easy to remove.
The granite rocks are massive and it looks like they were polished by someone. That’s what millions of years of wind, sunshine and sandstorms do with rocks. Erosion.
Some of the rocks look like animal figures, or is it just my imagination?
The whole area is bone-dry but amazingly you can still find vegetation around. Our guide Lazarus showed us multiple plants and explained their characteristics. One of them, Euphobia, is a killer. It looks like a harmless juicy plant but it is actually a poison one.
Story goes that 14 Bushmen died while using the dried branches to make a campfire. They roasted their meat and died soon after eating it.
Like everywhere in Namibia sunrise and sunset are magnificent.
And it is no different at Spitzkoppen. And on top of that, if you can enjoy it with a glass of white wine…
