Gross Barmen Hot Springs | Windhoek

Information

Landmark: Gross Barmen Hot Springs
City: Windhoek
Country: Namibia
Continent: Africa

Gross Barmen Hot Springs, Windhoek, Namibia, Africa

Gross Barmen Hot Springs is a state-owned recreational thermal resort and historic settlement located on the banks of a tributary of the Swakop River. It is situated 25km southwest of Okahandja and 100km north of Windhoek in the Otjozondjupa Region.

Visual Characteristics

The resort features a modern architectural spa complex characterized by a large barrel-vaulted thermal hall and manicured green lawns lined with palm trees. The site includes a glass-enclosed indoor thermal pool and a circular outdoor swimming pool. Natural mineral water emerges from a depth of 2,500 meters at a temperature of 65°C and is cooled to 40°C for therapeutic use. The surrounding landscape is a semi-arid savanna dominated by highland shrubland and rugged rocky outcrops.

Location & Access Logistics

Access is via the B1 national road to Okahandja, followed by the D1972 district road (gravel) heading southwest. The drive from Windhoek takes approximately 60 to 75 minutes. The resort provides on-site parking for day visitors and overnight guests. There is no direct public transport to the resort; private vehicles or taxis from Okahandja are the standard means of arrival.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Originally known as Otjikango ("large fountain" in Otjiherero), the site was the location of the first Rhenish mission station to the Herero, established in 1844 by missionaries Carl Hugo Hahn and Franz Heinrich Kleinschmidt. They named it Barmen after the headquarters of the Rhenish Missionary Society in Germany. The settlement served as a major trade link on the "Old Bay Path" until it was destroyed in 1904 during the Herero War. The site was proclaimed a state recreational area in 1968 and underwent a major redevelopment project completed in 2014.

Key Highlights & Activities

Activities center on hydrotherapy in the indoor and outdoor mineral pools and professional spa treatments at the wellness center. Birdwatching is a primary activity at the adjacent dam, which attracts over 150 species, including the African Jacana and Palm Swift. Visitors can conduct self-guided walks to view the ruins of the original 19th-century mission house and the Rhenish church.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The resort, managed by Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), features a full-service restaurant, a bar, and a kiosk stocking essential groceries and firewood. Facilities include a fitness center, conference rooms for up to 20 people, and a petrol station. Accommodations range from premier and bush chalets to a shady campsite with ablution blocks. The area has reliable 4G cellular coverage.

Best Time to Visit

The resort is open daily for day visitors from 08:00 to 17:00. The winter months (May to September) are considered the optimal time to visit, as the hot thermal waters provide a contrast to the cool ambient air. Photography of the palm-lined oasis is best in the late afternoon.

Facts & Legends

A historical oddity is that the site was a strategic neutral ground where a ten-year peace deal was brokered between the Nama and Herero chiefs, Jan Jonker Afrikaner and Maharero, in 1870. A unique local feature is the "eye" of the spring, which remains the central focal point of the modern architectural design, symbolizing the site's prehistoric and colonial history as a vital watering hole.