Hohenfels Police Station | Keetmanshoop

Information

Landmark: Hohenfels Police Station
City: Keetmanshoop
Country: Namibia
Continent: Africa

Hohenfels Police Station, Keetmanshoop, Namibia, Africa

The Hohenfels Police Station is a ruin of a German colonial-era police post located in the Tsau ǁKhaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park in southwestern Namibia. It is situated on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Orange River, approximately 15 to 20 kilometers east of Oranjemund.

Visual Characteristics

The site consists of the weathered ruins of a once-stately building, now largely reduced to mud-brick walls and stone foundations. It stands in a stark, arid landscape where the brown desert meets the green riparian belt of the Orange River. The building's elevation provides a strategic vantage point over the river and the sand dunes of the South African side of the border.

Location & Access Logistics

Access: Located within the Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park, which was a restricted diamond area (Sperrgebiet) for over a century. Access currently requires being part of a guided tour or having a specific concession permit, although the town of Oranjemund has recently opened to the public.

Proximity: About a 20-minute drive east of Oranjemund along the northern bank of the Orange River.

Road Conditions: Reachable via sandy tracks that require a 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The station was constructed in 1908 by the German colonial administration.

Strategic Purpose: It was built to monitor the border with South Africa (then the Cape Colony) and to prevent the illegal smuggling of diamonds out of the newly discovered diamond fields in the Sperrgebiet.

The Name: "Hohenfels" is German for "High Cliff" or "High Rock," referencing its position above the river.

Decline: The station was abandoned following the South African takeover of the territory during World War I (1914–1915) and subsequently fell into ruin as mining operations shifted toward the coast at Oranjemund.

Key Highlights & Activities

Ghost of Hohenfels: The site is a popular subject of local folklore. According to legend, the station is haunted by a "headless woman"-reportedly the Nama mistress of a German constable who was killed by the constable's daughter in 1914.

Photography: The ruins offer a high-contrast subject against the desert sky and the river valley, particularly during the "golden hour."

Succulent Observation: The surrounding rocky terrain is a habitat for rare Succulent Karoo flora, which have reclaimed much of the space around the ruins.

Infrastructure & Amenities

There is no infrastructure at the site itself.

Development: As of 2025–2026, there are proposals for a tourism concession that would include an adventure zone and potentially a lodge at or near the Hohenfels site to leverage its position on the Orange River.

Supplies: All supplies, fuel, and water must be brought from Oranjemund.

Best Time to Visit

Early morning is recommended to avoid the intense heat of the lower Orange River valley and to capture the best light for photography. The coastal fog common to Oranjemund often clears by mid-morning, revealing the views toward the river.

Facts & Legends

A specific historical detail: while many colonial police stations were functional and minimalist, Hohenfels was known for its relatively "stately" architecture, reflecting its importance as a primary border and security post for the diamond fields. The "Singing Rocks" (dolerite boulders that ring when struck) are also found in the vicinity of this river stretch.