Vingerklip - Rock Vinger near Outjo Namibia

The Rock Finger or Vingerklip (Afrikaans) makes for an impressive sighting as you approach the Farm Bertram. This 35 meter high conglomerate monolith balances somewhat precariously on the top of a conical shaped debris mound.

 

Formation:

Following the final breakup of the continent of Gondwana the western areas of the Southern Africa were slowly pushed upwards increasing the gradient between the hinterland and the new sea level. For a period of about 20 million years the Ugab became a fast flowing and powerful river that cut its way through the Damara Mountains. The river carried with it the

erosion debris of the earlier rock systems - gneiss, limestone, marble, schist and quartzite along with sand and silt. Eventually and over an extended time period a rise in the sea level and climate change saw the flow of the Ugab reduce to a level where the flow rate of the river was not sufficient to wash away the its own debris. Over a period of millions of years the wide river

bed began to fill with layers of varying sedimentary material. In times of high flood layers of boulders were deposited for vast distances along the river bed that in many places was several kilometers in width. During the times when a slower flow rate was experienced layers of silt and sand would settle over the boulder debris. These layers grew to be in excess of 100 meters thick. The waters that flowed were rich in dissolved limestone and this acted as a bonding agent that solidified the drying sand gravel beds into a hard conglomerate, and it was this mix that settled down and compressed itself into the rock-material that would eventually form the Vingerklip.  Time marched on until about 2 million years ago when  the sea level dropped again dramatically as a result of an

Vingerklip

Sedimentary layers

Erosion at base

Panoramic view from the Vingerklip with lodge nestled at the right

Khorixas / Twyfelfontein Area Attractions

Burnt Mountain

Petrified Forest

 Vingerklip

Accommodation

Organ Pipes

Twyfelfontein

 Map & Direction