National park · Namibia
Spitzkoppe
Pay the nominal entry fee at the gate (check), drive 50 km (31 mi) from Usakos on the D1918 then D3716, and walk the granite-arch area before noon; camp inside or sleep in Usakos.Pay the nominal entry fee at the gate (check), drive 31 mi (50 km) from Usakos on the D1918 then D3716, and walk the granite-arch area before noon; camp inside or sleep in Usakos.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
1960
Best months
Apr–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 10Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- Namibia ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Namibian government sources before booking: since 1 April 2025 citizens of 33 countries, including the US, UK, most of the EU, Canada and Australia, need a visa on arrival or an e-visa.
- Namibia ↗Taking a rental car into Botswana, South Africa, Zambia or Zimbabwe needs written permission from the rental company and the right papers; ask when you book.
- Namibia ↗Etosha gates open at sunrise and close at sunset: you must be inside a camp or out of the park by closing time.
- Erongo ↗Self-drive is the default; fill up in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Usakos or Karibib before any gravel leg.
- Erongo ↗Tracks inside Namib-Naukluft National Park need a permit; most need a 4x4.
- Erongo ↗Farm roads are private. Do not enter an open gate unless your destination is signposted there; close any gate you open.
At a glance
- Country
- Namibia
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- No official area figure published; the protected area around the massif is small and the exact size is check.
- Established
- 1960
- Best months
- Apr–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Spitzkoppe is a granite inselberg in Namibia's Erongo region: the Groot Spitzkoppe rises to 1,728 m and the Klein Spitzkoppe to 1,584 m, with the Pontok Mountains nearby. The area is run by a women's cooperative that keeps campsites among the rocks and collects a nominal fee at the entrance. Visitor numbers stay low. San rock-art panels sit on the western flank and some are reachable only with a local guide. The nearest town is Usakos, about 50 km away; Uis is about 90 km away.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1960.
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 1960
No official area figure published; the protected area around the massif is small and the exact size is check.
Why go
- Granite spires and arches rise straight out of the surrounding plain, visible from far off.
- San rock-art panels on the western flank, some reachable only with a local guide.
- Rock hyrax (dassies) are common on the outcrops and easy to watch.
- Campsites sit among the rock formations, and the volume of visitors is low.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanHot and wet; check the forecast
- FebHot; rain possible
- MarCooling; rain tails off
- AprDry, cooler days
- MayDry and mild; good walking
- JunDry, cold nights
- JulDry; coldest mornings
- AugDry; cold nights
- SepDry; warming up
- OctHot afternoons; dry
- NovHot; first rains
- DecHot; rain possible
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dassies (rock hyrax)All year · Common on the rocky surfaces; watch from a distance. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Desert-adapted birdsMar–May, Sep–Oct · Best in the cooler, drier months. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Usakos
Take the B2 to Usakos, then the D1918 to the D3716; about 50 km (31 mi) to the entrance.Take the B2 to Usakos, then the D1918 to the D3716; about 31 mi (50 km) to the entrance.
≈1 h
From Windhoek
Drive the B2 south to Usakos, then the D1918 and D3716.
≈5 h
Open the page →
From Swakopmund
Drive the B2 south to Usakos, then turn onto the D1918.
≈3 h
Open the page →
From Uis
Approach from the north; Uis is about 90 km (56 mi) away.Approach from the north; Uis is about 56 mi (90 km) away.
≈1.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance and main visitor area | Gate, small gift shop supporting the women's cooperative, and short walks to the rock formations. | Open with the entry fee. |
| San art sites | Rock-art panels on the western flank; the large deposit has been vandalised but is still worth visiting. | Some panels only with a local guide. |
| Campsite cluster | Campsites set among the rock formations, with trails leading out; most are reachable by ordinary car. | Self-drive; pay the camping fee. No water on site and only some sites have outhouses. |
Sketch map
- 1Spitzkoppe entrance gate · Gate≈-21.824, 15.194Approximate.Map ↗
- 2Groot Spitzkoppe (1,728 m) · Summit≈-21.824, 15.194Approximate.Map ↗
- 3Klein Spitzkoppe (1,584 m) · Summit≈-21.808, 15.168Approximate.Map ↗
- 4Campsite cluster · Sleep≈-21.826, 15.190Approximate.Map ↗
- 5Usakos · Town≈-22.000, 15.583About 50 km (31 mi) from the entrance.About 31 mi (50 km) from the entrance.Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions of the entrance gate, main viewpoints and Usakos, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry fee at the gate (women's cooperative) | Free | person | Nominal; the exact amount is not published — check at the gate. |
| Camping (2 adults and a car) | Free | site | N$125 was quoted in 2007; current price check. |
| Local guide (voluntary sum) | Free | group | A voluntary sum was the practice in November 2021; agree the amount first. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
San art panels no permit
Park rules
- Fires
- Open fires are prohibited; use a stove only.check
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; there are no bins on site.check
- San art
- Do not touch or chalk the rock-art panels; some are accessible only with a local guide.check
- Water
- There is no water at the campsites; bring your own supply.
Where to stay
In the park
Spitzkoppe campsites
Basic sites among the rocks; no water and only some have outhouses. Most reachable by ordinary car.
In the park
Damara huts
Traditional huts for rent in the area.
Near the park
Usakos – Bahnhof Hotel
14 rooms with air-conditioning and TV, licensed restaurant and safe parking; about 50 km (31 mi) away.14 rooms with air-conditioning and TV, licensed restaurant and safe parking; about 31 mi (50 km) away.
Near the park
Uis
Alternative base about 90 km (56 mi) away.Alternative base about 56 mi (90 km) away.
Safety
Robbery attempts on the approach roads medium
Remote location and heat medium
Gravel roads medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The visitor area and the routes to the main rock formations are short walks on uneven ground.
- The San art panels need a walk over rough rock; not wheelchair-friendly.
Visiting lightly
- Buy from the small gift shop, which supports the women's cooperative that runs the site.
- Use the designated campsites and leave no rubbish; there are no bins.
- Never touch or wet the San rock art.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Spitzkoppe?
A nominal fee is paid at the entrance gate, which is run by the local women's cooperative. The exact amount is not published — check at the gate. Camping is charged separately; the last quoted rate was N$125 for two adults and a car in 2007, so treat that as a starting point only.
What are the best hikes in Spitzkoppe?
There is no long trail network. Most visitors walk the short routes from the visitor area and campsites into the granite formations, and add the guided San rock-art walk on the western flank. Route lengths are not published — check on arrival.
When is the best time to visit Spitzkoppe?
April to September brings dry, cooler conditions and cold nights. October and November turn hot before the first rains, and January and February are the wettest and hottest months. Namibia's dry season runs roughly April to October.
Can I camp at Spitzkoppe?
Yes. Campsites are set among the rock formations and most are reachable by ordinary car. There is no water on the sites and only some have outhouses, so bring water and a stove. The 2007 rate was N$125 for two adults and a car — current price check.
Do I need a guide for the San art sites?
Some panels are accessible only with a local guide, and guides are usually available on site for a voluntary sum. Agree the amount before you set off and never touch the art.
How do I get to Spitzkoppe?
From the B2 at Usakos, take the D1918 and then the D3716 — about 50 km to the entrance. Usakos is the nearest town; Uis is about 90 km away.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Spitzkoppe
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