Dinosaur Footprints (Otjihaenamaparero) | Otjiwarongo

Information

Landmark: Dinosaur Footprints (Otjihaenamaparero)
City: Otjiwarongo
Country: Namibia
Continent: Africa

Dinosaur Footprints (Otjihaenamaparero), Otjiwarongo, Namibia, Africa

The Otjihaenamaparero Dinosaur Footprints are a world-renowned paleontological site located on a private farmstead in central Namibia. It features the longest recorded dinosaur trackway in Africa and was declared a national monument in 1951.

Visual Characteristics

The site consists of petrified footprints embedded in a flat, expansive slab of Etjo Sandstone. The tracks are remarkably well-preserved, showing distinct three-toed (tridactyl) impressions with visible claw marks. The rock surface is often reddish-brown, typical of the regional sandstone. Two major trackways are famously visible, crossing each other at near right angles.

Location & Access Logistics

Location: Situated on Farm Otjihaenamaparero, approximately 23 km east of Kalkfeld and 150 km north of Okahandja.

Access: Accessible via the D2414 or D2467 gravel roads. The site is well-signposted from the main B1 and C33 highways.

Vehicle Type: Reachable by 2WD vehicles, though high-clearance is recommended for the gravel turn-offs.

Entry: Visitors must register at the farmhouse. A small conservation fee (approximately N$20–N$50) is typically required.

Hours: Generally open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Geological & Paleontological Origin

The footprints date back approximately 190 to 200 million years to the Early Jurassic period.

The Environment: At the time, the area was a semi-arid desert with ephemeral waterholes. Dinosaurs left their marks in soft, wet clay or silt near these water sources.

Preservation: The tracks were quickly covered by wind-blown sand, which protected them from erosion and allowed them to lithify into stone over millions of years.

Species: The tracks belong to at least two different bipedal (two-legged) theropods. The larger tracks (up to 45 cm long) are attributed to the ichnogenus Saurichnium, likely a large predator similar to Ceratosaurus. The smaller tracks were made by agile, smaller carnivores.

Key Highlights & Activities

Main Trackway: Observation of the two intersecting paths, one of which can be followed for over 30 meters.

Photography: Best captured in the early morning or late afternoon when the low-angle sun creates shadows that define the depth and detail of the imprints.

Farm Stay: The Otjihaenamaparero Guest Farm offers camping and guest house accommodation, allowing for easy early-morning access to the tracks.

Educational Walk: A short, marked trail leads from the parking area to the various track sites (there are seven identified sites on the farm, though the main one is the primary attraction).

Infrastructure & Amenities

Accommodation: Camping sites with basic "donkey-fired" (wood-heated) showers and a guest house.

Facilities: Basic toilets near the farmhouse; no formal shop or restaurant at the tracks themselves.

Connectivity: Mobile signal is weak or non-existent at the tracks but available near the farmhouse.

Best Time to Visit

The winter months (May to September) are most comfortable. During summer, the flat sandstone slabs absorb and radiate extreme heat, making the walk uncomfortable during midday.

Facts & Legends

A specific scientific fact: while these are widely called "dinosaur footprints," they are technically ichnofossils (trace fossils). No skeletal remains have been found at this specific farm, but the footprints provide definitive proof of the size, gait, and speed of the animals. The "crossing" of the tracks has led to popular speculation that it captures a moment of two different species interacting millions of years ago, though they may have been made at different times.