Grootfontein

Grootfontein

Baobab Tree

Colourful street in Grootfontein

The Fort Museum

Grootfontein lays at the Eastern end of the picturesque Otavi Mountains. The town is an ideal stay over place if travelling to the northern Kavango - Caprivi Region. Local area attractions include the Big Baobab Tree, Gaub Cave and Hoba Meteorite.

 

The San Bushmen called the place 'Gei-ous' which meant the Big Fountain. The Herero named it Otjiwinda tjongue which meant the Hillcrest of the Leopard. The town is still officially known as Otjiwanda.

 

In the early 1880s a group of Trek-Boers, from the Transvaal, who became known as the Dorstland (thirst-land) Trekkers trundled across the north of Namibia. Their leader William Worthington Jordan had promised them the founding of a new and free republic that they were going to name Upingtonia. On 21 April 1885 Jordan concluded with the Ovambo Chief Kambonde of Ondongua the purchase of a tract of land south of the Etosha Pan that included the Grootfontein - Otavi - Tsumeb triangle, an area of about 50,000 sq miles, for the sum of 300 British Pounds, 25 Rifles, an immunized horse and a barrel of brandy. Jordan distributed the land amongst the Trek-Boers, but reserved for himself the mineral rights.

 

The deal that the Ovambo Chief Kambonde had made with Jordan was the cause of great concern to the Herero Paramount Chief Maharero for he considered that the lands of the Grootfontein-Otavi-Tsumeb triangle might be his. He sought the help of an old friend and confident who had been in the country since 1858, Robert Lewis, adventurer, elephant hunter, trader and a man known for 'getting things done'. Lewis travelled north where he exerted his influence on the Ovambo Headmen to cancel the deal with Jordan. Returning payment to the trek-boers was not an option for the Ovambos, and Chief Nehale Mpingana provided a quick and simple solution by attacking, looting and killing many of the trek-boers along with Jordan. Some of the survivors managed to escape to Angola, their dream - independent Republic of Upingtonia the victim of greed and political expediency.

 

The Old Forte Museum at Grootfontein

In 1896 the German Schutztruppe established a presence at Groofontein and built a fort. It was from here that a patrol was sent to search for the survivors of the attack on the small outpost at Namutoni by Ovambos on 28 January 1904. The fortress now serves as a museum and is well worth a visit.

 

Termite Damage

Wood Lathe

UNTAG Uniform

Wagon Wheel Jig

Steam Roller

 

The old German fort was recently infiltrated by termites. By November 2005 sections of the fort had to be closed for repair. It was discovered the busy insects had first built a command centre between the first level ceiling and floor boards and then launched an all-out attack on the fort.  Above left can be seen a termite damaged floor beam.

 

The Grootfontein Museum has somehow accumulated one of the best collections of crafts-machinery in the country. Here you can see how wagon wheels were made and the machinery that was used to make them and a host of other equipment all in pristine condition.

 

The UNTAG uniform is that of a Swiss Medical Officer who was stationed in Namibia with the United Nations Transitional force that monitored the free and fair elections that brought about the Republic of Namibia in 1990. I'm told he's quite a celebrity with the Swiss tourists who visit.

 

The Museum has a Himba display room with many of the traditional items of clothing along with anklets, bracelets and necklaces. If you're not planning on a trip to see the Himba this is the place where you will gain a better understanding of their traditional way of life. Good photos etc. of everyday Himba Life.

 

The steam engine, shown, was built in England in 1926 and is in full working condition

 

Acknowledgements and further reading: M7, H20,H21,P1,

Local Area Attractions

• Map of Namibia

• Map Grootfontein

• Namibia Towns

• Accommodation
• Car Rental

• Tours - Guided
• Tours -Self Guided

 Travel To Grootfontein

By Road - Self Drive:

From Otavi:     Drive the B8 east or 96km

From Rundu:   Drive the B8 south for 199km

From Tsumeb: Drive the C42 east for 57km

  Distances from Grootfontein  (km / miles)

 By Rail - Scheduled Services

• TransNamib Passenger

 

 By Road - Scheduled Services

• Bus & Shuttle Operators

Katima	Otavi	Rundu	Swakopmund	Tsumeb	Windhoek
791 / 492	96 / 58	238 / 148	594 / 369	57 / 35	462 / 287

• Map of Namibia   For detailed digitally produced road and town directional maps of Namibia

• Namibia-Tour-Guide   A site designed specifically, to help you plan your tour of Namibia

• Namibia-Accommodation-Guide The complete list as registered with the Namibia Tourism Board

• Namibia-Hunting-Safaris All you need to know, plus the complete list of licensed, registered Professional Hunters

• Air-Namibia-Timetable User friendly timetable of all Air Namibia flights.

• South-African-Airways-Timetable  User friendly timetable of all SAA flights.

• Car Rental

Grootfontein

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