Keetmanshoop is conveniently situated at junction of the B1 road to
South Africa and the B4 west to Luderitz and the coast. A good
location for an overnight stay and springboard for visiting
the Fish River Canyon, the local tourist attractions are often
overlooked by busy travellers. Nearby are the volcano like
Brukkaros, the
Giant's Playground, The
Mesosaurus Fossils, the
Naute
Dam and
Quiver-Tree Forest. The town has some interesting buildings from the German
period and a small museum housed in the Rhenish Church.
Keetmanshoop History:
The Nama tribe !kharo-Oan
led by Kaptein Hendrik Tsieb settled at the place they called
Swartmodder in 1866. Shortly following this the Rhenish Missionary Dr. Carl Hugo
Hahn sought the finances to establish a church and mission station at the
settlement. A German businessman from the town of Barmen, Johann Keetman donated the funds and the settlement was
named Keetman's Hope in recognition of his generosity and also hopes
that the project would succeed. Following the
1884 German occupation of
Namibia, Keetmanshoop was proclaimed a town on 14 April 1866 and granted
Municipality status on 1 November 1909.
|
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| Karas Region |
| 26º34'S -
18º08'E |
| Population 22,000 |
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Map of Namibia |
|
Map of Keetmanshoop |
Johan Keetman |
The old German (Kaiserliches Postamt) Post and
Telegraphic Office was built in 1909. It also had an accommodation
wing for the staff. The building was proclaimed a National Monument
on 2.02.1987. It stands at the corner of Hampie Plichta Ave. and 6th
Street and now serves as the Keetmanshoop tourist information office.
Following the wash-away of the original church in the
great flood of 28 October 1890 the Rhenish
Mission Church was rebuilt on higher ground and was consecrated on 8
May 1895. It is the oldest standing building in Keetmanshoop and now
serves as a museum. The church was proclaimed a National Monument on
17.06.1978. It stands on Sam Nujoma Ave
|
Hampie Plichta Str |
Rhenish Church |
Church Museum |
German Post Office |
Kaiserkrone River |
The above left street was named after the late and much respected Hampie
Plichta, who devoted much of his life to public service, promoting tourism to
the south of Namibia, and served as the mayor of Keetmanshoop for many years.
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