Organ Pipes (Damaraland) | Otjiwarongo

Information

Landmark: Organ Pipes (Damaraland)
City: Otjiwarongo
Country: Namibia
Continent: Africa

Organ Pipes (Damaraland), Otjiwarongo, Namibia, Africa

The Organ Pipes (Damaraland) is a geological landmark located in a small gorge near the Twyfelfontein UNESCO site in northwestern Namibia.

Visual Characteristics

The site consists of a 100-meter-long exposure of vertical dolerite columns. These hexagonal and pentagonal rock pillars reach heights of up to 4 meters, resembling the pipes of a cathedral organ. The rock has a dark, rusty-brown appearance due to surface oxidation, contrasting with the lighter surrounding desert floor.

Location & Access Logistics

Access: Located approximately 4 km west of the Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings, off the D2612 road.

Vehicle Type: Reachable via 2WD vehicles on gravel roads.

Entry: A small entrance fee is typically required at the gate, which often grants access to both the Organ Pipes and the nearby Burnt Mountain.

Physicality: Accessible via a short, flat walk from the parking area into the dry riverbed where the columns are exposed.

Geological Origin

The formation dates back approximately 120 to 150 million years, coinciding with the breakup of the Gondwana supercontinent.

Volcanic Activity: During this period, massive volcanic eruptions occurred. Molten dolerite (a type of basaltic rock) was injected into a fissure in the earth's crust.

Columnar Jointing: As the lava cooled and contracted, it cracked into regular, geometric columns. This is the same physical process that created the Giant's Causeway in Ireland, though on a smaller scale.

Erosion: Over millions of years, the surrounding softer rock was eroded away by the Aba-Huab River, leaving the harder dolerite columns exposed.

Key Highlights

Geometric Precision: Close-up observation reveals the near-perfect symmetry of the cooling cracks.

Dolerite Texture: The rock is exceptionally hard and dense; striking it with another stone often produces a metallic, ringing sound.

Photography: The vertical lines of the columns are best captured during the early morning or late afternoon when shadows define the depth of the pillars.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Facilities: Minimal. There is a small parking area and a ticket hut. No toilets or water facilities are available at the site itself; these are located 4 km away at the Twyfelfontein Visitor Centre.

Connectivity: Mobile signal is non-existent in the gorge.

Best Time to Visit

The site is most impressive during the dry season (May to September). During the heat of midday, the black rock absorbs significant thermal energy, making the gorge notably hotter than the surrounding plains.