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Ghost Diamonds

Abandoned mining towns deep in the Namib Desert.

By Johnny Graham

August 2^nd, 2018

THE long abandoned and very ghostly diamond mining towns

The long abandoned and very ghostly diamond mining towns of Grillenberg, Charlottenvelde & Holtsatia are in one of the most remote areas of Namibia's Namib Desert. This area was scoured clean to its ancient bedrock by the claims and industry of the diamond seeking miners and its scars are still visible despite the encroaching sands best efforts.

Abandoned Tank and Ghost Town, Namib Desert.

Yup that’s an old tank in one of the pictures

Yup that's an old tank in one of the pictures, seemly used as a means to tow things around when the old horse and cart failed. Not what you expect to find in the middle of a desert a few hundred miles from the nearest town surrounded by the remains of old carts and buildings but rather epic nonetheless.

Ghost Town, Namib Desert.

Just as bizarre as the tank is one lone pineapple on a shelf

Other artifacts are left, some still as they where left that you can vividly envisage the last miner downing tools and leaving the settlements as we found it. Just as bizarre as the tank is one lone pineapple on a shelf inside one of the more preserved shacks. Its sat there untouched for a long time preserved by the dry desert climate. Some shacks seem pristine while others standing yards away are in ruin or a shell. Also noticeable are the old fragile water pipes that connected the towns and must of literally been a lifeline.

Wagon Wheels, Ghost Town, Namib Desert.

Almost everything here would of had to of been brought in via ship to the nearby Skeleton Coast

One thing in abundance in the towns is the sand blasted remains of green bottles that no doubt hosted alcohol to keep them warm during the cool desert nights and distracted during the hotter days. Almost everything here would of been brought in via ship to the nearby Skeleton Coast. An enterprise with its own danger as the treacherous coastline could only be landed via small specialist boats(which I saw examples of further South at Meob Bay) as larger ships could easily shipwreck or run aground. As did one famous local Conception Bay shipwreck which is still there to this day the Eduard Bohlen.

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

The Namib Desert is a tough environment

The Namib Desert is a tough environment even to a modern expedition I cant begin to envisage how it must of been to these stubborn souls chasing their fortune sifting through an entire desert grain by grain. I went chasing the reward of photographs but every so often your eyes trick you into thinking you see a brief precious glint among the dunes and you wonder what it would of been like finding a more shiny reward to take home.

I merrily settled for the memories and photographs.

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

https://www.livethejourney.co.za/destinations/namibia/

https://www.facebook.com/travelunchartedtours/

http://www.namibiatourism.com.na/

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Ghost Diamonds

Footnotes

Featured on exposure.co |Visited Namibia January-February 2015.

FootNotes

Featured on exposure.co |Visited Namibia January-February 2015.

© 2026 Johnny Graham

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