Aus

For other places with the same name, see Aus (disambiguation).

Aus is a town in the ǁKaras region of southern Namibia.

The town is at the approximate tripoint of three biomes: the Southern Namib desert, the Nama Karoo, and the Succulent Karoo. If the area gets winter rain the wildflower bloom is a spectacle that warrants a visit: Just like in the Karoo in South Africa, barren lands suddenly come alive for a few weeks in August and the landscape is covered with blooming wild flowers.

Get in

The settlement is situated on the B4, 230 kilometres (140 mi) west of Keetmanshoop and 125 kilometres (78 mi) east of Lüderitz.

See

• There are some Commonwealth war graves that can be visited in Aus. The site is signposted from the B4.
• The wildflower bloom happens in the early weeks of August if there was winter rain in the months before. This does not happen every year. You can phone the Klein-Aus Vista reception below to find out.
• 1 WWI POW camp (signposted from the B4). Ruins from a World War I prisoners-of-war camp (updated Jan 2021)

Feral Horses

At Garub, about 20 km west of Aus on the B4, there is a water point for the wild horses of the Namib, with a shaded observation shack for visitors. No entrance fee, no permit required. Also ostriches and oryx frequent this water hole.

These desert horses are eccentric in their adaptation to desert conditions. For example, they are smaller than conventional horses, can go without water for days at a time and urinate less than conventional horses. Several theories abound as to their heritage. Some say that they are remnants of the German Imperial Army abandoned during World War I. Others speculate that they are descendants from a shipwreck cargo.

After many years of drought in the 2010s they are on the brink of extinction; even from the dedicated observation point near the Garub railway station you now need luck to spot any. The population was between 150 and 200; it is unclear how many are left.

Buy

Aus features a petrol station and several small shops and eateries.

Eat

• 1 Bahnhof Hotel Aus, 20 Lüderitz Street (on the main road), ☏ +264 61 23-7294, fax: +264 61 23-7295. Typical Namibian menu: meat, salad, pizza. The pizza is not good but the restaurant has an interesting interior. Light lunch N$100, lunch N$130, N$steak 200. (updated Feb 2018)

Sleep

• Bahnhof Hotel Aus, ☏ +264 61 23-7294, fax: +264 61 23-7295, reservations@exclusive.com.na. 
• 1 Klein-Aus Vista (signposted off the B4, 5 km west of Aus), ☏ +264 63 258 116, fax: +264 88 623 002, info@klein-aus-vista.com. Check-out: 10AM. Chalets, rooms, the solitary Geisterschlucht Cabin, and a camp site with 8 spots. Curio shop, bar and restaurant, swimming pool, rock garden with samples of the local flora if you cannot be bothered to hike. Well-maintained facilities, friendly and competent staff. Hiking and mountain biking trails (several distances and difficulties) are nicely maintained and signposted. During the wildflower bloom there is a guided tour by car, but several really spectacular places can be reached on foot, and even the camp site is in the midst of a flower field. However, only in August will you see anything but barren rock. At that time the area has sub-zero night temperatures, consider whether you have the right camping equipment for such conditions. Camping N$150 pp, Geisterschlucht Cabin N$ 400 pp, min 3 people. Children under 13 half price. Hikes require a day permit @ N$ 50 pppd. 

Go next

• Keetmanshoop
• Lüderitz