Keetmanshoop

Keetmanshoop is the capital of the ǁKaras region of southern Namibia. It's one of the main stopping points on the B1 between Windhoek and South Africa. Referred to in Namibia as Keetmans. At first, Keetmanshoop (pronounced keet-man-swoop), may seem like not much more than a quick stopover. The main reason for stopping at all is to refill on gas and check your tires (the dry, hot asphalt of the highway can make tires pop), but there is in fact much more to this town if you get the chance to discover it, either out of your own volition, or because your car breaks down.

An old German town, Keetmanshoop features a cinema, multiple restaurants, an impressive library, and easy access to some of the most visually stunning landscapes this side of the border.

Get in

By bus

Long distance coaches pass through Keetmans on a regular basis on their way between Windhoek and South Africa. Unfortunately the north-bound trip from South Africa arrives at a nasty hour of the morning.

By combie

Combies (shared taxis) travel regularly to Keetmans from various places in Namibia, including Windhoek, Lüderitz and Mariental. Combies also arrive in Keetmans from South Africa. There are also private shuttles that provide transport to and from Keetmanshoop.

By train

Keetmanshoop is 10 hours by overnight mixed train (seats only, no sleepers) from Windhoek. The bus is a much better option.

• 1 Keetmanshoop railway station. (updated Nov 2021)

See

Rhenish Mission Church, 1895.

Quivertree Forest

• 1 Keetmanshoop Museum. Housed in the Rhenish Mission Church, a historic monument and well-known landmark. The church was built in 1895 in a Gothic architectural style, cast in African stone. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Keetmanshoop Dutch Reformed Church. Historic church. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Quiver tree forest (On farm Gariganus about 15 km outside Keetmanshoop on the M29). A 2 hectares protected area with about 200 quiver trees (Aloe dichotoma). The Giant's Playground, an area with millions of boulders that look like stacked on purpose, is another 3 km to the north-east. Worth a visit. Both are perfect for scenic photos and make the area around Keetmanshoop more than just an overnight-stay. If you want to save on the fee, there are quiver trees all over the place, some freely accessible, and there is a much larger quiver tree forest north-west of Keetmanshoop. Best photos are taken at sunset and at sunrise but you need to get your timing right because if you enter between sunset and sunrise you need a photographer's permit for a whopping 500 N$. You need a permit to enter any of the two sights, obtainable at Quiver Tree Forest Camp (below at "Sleep"). (updated Jan 2024)

Do

• Trek Best place to organize a trek through the Fish River Canyon Park. #24 Luchtenstein st., around the corner to the north from the petrol station where the bus stops. Look for the sign on the station window. Staff can organize transport to the Fish River Lodge, where a 5 day hike in the canyon is available.

Buy

The town has outfitters, a hardware store, and auto parts stores.

• FNB First National Bank, Hampie Plichta Avenue. 24 hours atm.. mastercard visa card atm. (updated Aug 2023)
• Shoprite Supermarket, 5th Avenue old Mutual Center. 08.00-18.00. lower prices. (updated Aug 2023)

Eat

• Uschie's A humble, friendly, portly eatery near the main road into town, Uschie's is run by an old German couple. The restaurant offers a huge number of different hamburgers, all delicious. Just as massive (and famous in South Africa) are the Greek salads.
• 1 Central Lodge, 5th Avenue (in the town centre). The meals are good value for money, even the light meals are quite big. Light lunch N$50, lunch N$90, steak N$120. (updated Feb 2018)
• 2 Mar Cella's Foods, 4th Street. Restaurant, bar, and take-away. The food is only average. (updated Jan 2024)

Drink

• Naute Kristall Cellar and Distillery, on the way to Fish-River Canyon – C12 (at the Naute Dam and reservoir south of Seeheim), ☏ +264 81 2845107. M-F 08:00-17:00, Sa Su 08:00-14:00. The distillery produces white wine and spirits like gin, rum, grappa with a Namibian twist: Devil’s Claw flavour. They offer tastings and a restaurant that serves light lunches, coffee, cake and juices. If you can't make the detour, the products are also available in larger liquor stores in larger cities. (updated Dec 2023)

Sleep

Budget under N$500

• The Golden Rule Self Catering & Accommodation for Guests, 3rd Street (1350 feet from the train station, 0.4 miles from the centre). single/double room with own bathroom. N$375. (updated Aug 2023)
• Urban Life Keetmanshoop Accommodation, Luchtenstein 286 (0.9 miles from the center). single/double room with own bathroom. from N$375. (updated Aug 2023)

Mid-range

• Bird's Mansions Hotel, 6th Ave, ☏ +264 63 22-1711, fax: +264 63 22-1730, hotel@birdsaccommodation.com. 
• Canyon Hotel, Wheeler, ☏ +264 63 22-3361, fax: +264 63 22-3714, canyon@namibnet.com. Check-out: 11:00. A nice, if somewhat dated, motel with pool and dining. 
• Central Lodge, 5th Stree, ☏ +264 63 22-5850, fax: +264 63 22-4984, info@central-lodge.com. 
• 1 Quivertree Forest Rest Camp (On farm Gariganus about 15 km outside Keetmanshoop on the M29). Rooms and a camp site. Swimming pool, WiFi, and drinks for sale at the reception, nice shaded area. Two cheetahs in captivity if you like this sort of thing. The camp site is functional and well maintained, with running water and AC power at every spot. But the place is not particularly nice. There is essentially no shade, and it is situated directly at the gravel road which brings noise and dust throughout the day. Camp site 300 N$ pppn, permits for the Quiver tree forest and the Giant's Playground included. Children full price. 
• Bernice Bed and Breakfast, down a dirt road with out a street address, ☏ +264 63 224851. single/double rooms. (updated Apr 2015)
• 2 Hotel Schützenhaus, ☏ +264 63 223 400. The oldest German club in Africa, established in 1907. Now turned into a guesthouse. (updated Nov 2021)