A Complete Guide to Visiting Spitzkoppe, Namibia

Spitzkoppe is one of Namibia’s most famous attractions and its popularity only seems to be growing each year.

It’s not hard to understand Spitzkoppe’s popularity: think spectacular red granite peaks, rising straight from the desert floor. Add to the mix some wonderful camping spots and some of the world’s best star-gazing and you have one hell of a desert destination. 

Keen to check out Spitzkoppe for yourself? Continue on for our complete guide to visiting Spitzkoppe. 

Spitzkoppe Overview

‘Spitzkoppe’ is the popular term for a larger area known as the Spitzkoppe Nature Reserve. This reserve is home to a cluster of granite mountains dating back more than 120 million years. They’re visually stunning, and all the more so because they rise out of the desert floor. 

There are a number of peaks within Spitzkoppe, the most famous being Spitzkoppe, Klein Spitzkoppe and the Pondok Mountains.

Of these, Spitzkoppe Mountain is the best known. It’s not only the highest in the park (at 1728m) but it also just happens to resemble the famous Swiss mountain, earning it the nickname ‘the Matterhorn of Africa’. 

As for wildlife, expect to see A LOT of chubby rock dassies at Spitzkoppe, which call the area home. If you’re really lucky, you may spot a leopard high up, gazing down on you. (But don’t get your hopes up).

Where to next? Check out Kaokoland and Epupa Falls

Spitzkoppe Location

Spitzkoppe is located in the Namib desert in the central-eastern Erongo region of Namibia. Spitzkoppe is approximately 160 kilometres northeast of the popular tourist resort, Swakopmund, and 280 kilometres northwest of Namibia’s capital, Windhoek.

Read next: How to Visit a Himba Tribe Ethically and Responsibly

How to Get to Spitzkoppe

If you’d like to visit Spitzkoppe independently, you really need your own set of wheels (as is the case with the rest of Namibia). Fortunately, Namibia excels at car rentals, especially those with rooftop tents and all the associated camping gear. This is our first choice, not just for visiting Spitzkoppe, but for touring all of Namibia. Check out the best prices here. 

Of course, visiting Spitzkoppe as part of a tour is always an option and the many tour buses going through the park attest to this.  

Camping at Spitzkoppe

For most visitors to Spitzkoppe, spending a night camping in the reserve is the main attraction. With vast open spaces, psychedelic rock formations and some of the best night skies in the world, Spitzkoppe completely embodies the full desert camping experience. In fact, we rank it as one of the top camping experiences you can have in Namibia.

There are two main camping options at Spitzoppe. 

Spitzkoppe Community Rest Camp

Spitzkoppe Community Rest Camp is the ‘main’ Spitzkoppe campsite and what most people think of when they imagine camping at Spitzkoppe. It’s a community-run, basic campsite set inside the Spitzkoppe Mountain Reserve. 

The Community Camp is famous for its large, private sites that are set pretty far apart. That said, I was somewhat surprised when we rocked up to see that there are some in relatively close quarters. 

It’s worth noting that Spitzkoppe Community Camp gets really busy in high season (June – September), so if you’re visiting during that time, it’s best to try to book ahead. The website is temperamental, so giving the campsite a call is the best option. We did just rock up in June and managed to get a spot, but it was busy and choice was limited. 

The campsites at Spitzkoppe Community Camp are on a first-come, first-served basis. This means that even if you have a booking, you are not pre-allocated a site. When you get there, you are given a map and the freedom to drive around and pick your own site. Oh and also, the map they give you is rubbish and confusing. 

It goes without saying that the popular ones get snatched up pretty quickly. These seem to be the campsites on the western side. Fortunately, this means that the eastern side of the reserve is pretty much ignored, and we think the best Spitzkoppe camping sites are found there! 

We personally recommend campsite # 17B. It’s fantastic and very few people go to the far east end, so it’s very private with great views. Campsite #18A/B is directly across from 17B and is another great option. It’s nestled in the mountain and quite secluded. 

Overall, campsite # 1 is probably the most outstanding, but can get really windy, which can make camping there quite tricky. 

Important: if you see a campsite that has chairs in it, this means it’s reserved. Don’t be a dickhead and steal it from someone. 

Facilities at Spitzkoppe Community Rest Camp

We’ll be honest: camping at Spitzkoppe is essentially wild camping. There are long drop toilets at each site (bring your own TP), and that’s about it. 

You can find potable water at the reception, along with communal ablutions with hot water showers. There’s also a cute restaurant at the reception, and while we didn’t eat here, the reviews are pretty good.

However, the reception area is very far from any of the actual sites, so don’t plan on walking back and forth. If you need to go to the reception area for anything, you’ll have to drive. 

Spitzkoppe Community Rest Camp Cost

Camping at Spitzkoppe Community Rest Camp costs 210 NAD per person per night (pppn). It’s pretty expensive for what is essentially wild camping, but it is a beautiful spot and the money supports the community. 

The fee also includes your admission to the Spitzkoppe Mountain Reserve (120 NAD pp), so if you plan on spending any time inside the park, it really is a better deal to spend the night. 

Spitzkoppe Tented Camp

Located around 500 metres outside the Spitzoppe Mountain Reserve, the Spitzkoppe Tented Camp is a different campsite from the famous Spitzkoppe one. 

Spitzkoppe Tented Camp has pre-set-up bush tents and offers a bit more in the way of comfort and facilities than the main camp. This is best for those who don’t have their own gear or are just seeking a few more amenities than the community camp can provide. The space is quite beautiful and offers great views of Spitzkoppe, even though you are located outside of the reserve. 

Spitzkoppe Tented Camp Facilities

Each tent at Spitzkoppe Tented Camp has its own private bathroom, electricity and braai area. The bathrooms have a flush toilet and a shower – although reports go back and forth whether the water is actually hot or not. 

Spitzkoppe Tented Camp Cost

Spitzkoppe Tented Camp costs 200 NAD pppn, but importantly, does not include entrance to the reserve (an additional 120 NAD per person). 

Wild Camping at Spitzkoppe

There are some really nice wild camping options around Spitzkoppe, but we don’t think it would be a responsible move to publish them on the internet, so you’ll just have to look around to find them… 

Be aware though, they can get really windy. Like, really, really windy. 

Activities at Spitzkoppe

The main activities at Spitzkoppe are hiking, casual rambling and just enjoying the incredible scenery. 

Spitzkoppe Guided Hikes

Unfortunately, all official hiking at Spitzkoppe must now be done with a guide. Welcome to Africa, baby! 

(Side note: if you’re looking for an epic (and independent) hike in Namibia, check out Fish River Canyon.)

There are a number of official hikes within the reserve, which we have outlined below. These must be arranged in advance at the Spitzkoppe Community Camp reception. Guides must be picked up at reception at a previously agreed-upon time (preferably between 6:30 am and 8:30 am) and must be transported in your car. 

1. Gross Spitzkoppe Hike

• Cost: 600 NAD pp
• Duration: 4 – 5 hours

2. Pontokke Hike

• Cost: 450 NAD pp
• Duration: Approx 3 hours

3. Golden Snake Hike

• Cost: Approx 3 hours
• Duration: Pricing is by group size – groups more than 4 cost 50 NAD pp; groups less than 4 cost 150 pp

4. Bird Hike (Herero Chat)

• Half day – 400 NAD pp
• Full day – 800 pp

There are two other short guided walks at Spitzkoppe: Bushman’s Paradise and Small Bushman’s Paradise. These do not need to be arranged in advance. Guides sit at the Small Bushman’s Paradise and Chain Ladders from 8 am to 6 pm every day, so you just need to rock up to arrange a walk. Both of these don’t have a formal cost and are only priced by way of a tip to the guide.

As a personal recommendation, the hike to Bushman’s Paradise is lovely and worth doing. It gives a good perspective of the rock, plus the rock art is cool. We particularly enjoyed the explanations of both the history of the Bushman people and the current community. We also loved our guide, Jennifer.

Spitzkoppe Informal Hiking 

There’s an informal hiking trail that you can do yourself that starts from campsite #10B which leads to a nice viewpoint of Sugarloaf. There’s a clear trail with rock cairns to guide the way and it’s marked on maps.me.

Spitzkoppe is also good for casual rambling, with a walk to the ‘arch’ a popular activity. 

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