Tsumeb
Tsumeb is located in the north of Namibia, in the Oshikoto region. Due to its ideal location and transport links, it is the main area for business and agriculture in the northern part of the country. Tsumeb is an extremely fertile area well suited for agriculture, and it also has a huge mineral and lead mining industry. The city has some excellent shops, attractions and beautiful scenery that attract many visitors each year.
Attractions
On the main street of the city lies the Tsumeb Museum. Here you can learn about the mining history of the city and admire the stunning collections of rare minerals such as ajoite, cosalite, iowaite and milarite. There are many Himba and Bushmen artefacts to see in the museum and you can also learn about the German colonial history of the area.
Tsumeb Cultural Village is the place to go to learn about traditional and fascinating Namibian cultures. It is a museum that holds historical collections such as arts and crafts, and you can learn about the lives of various Namibian people throughout history. You can also learn about the rural life of various Namibian Tribes such as Himba, Ovambo, Kavango, Carpivi and many more.
Tsumeb is primarily a mining town and is home to a huge mine that closed down in 1996. The main shaft became flooded but the excess water was harvested and pumped to Windhoek. It has since reopened and people can visit the numerous historical sites of the old mine, although it is unlikely that the deepest areas will ever be mined again.
Located 75km southeast of Tsumeb is the world’s heaviest known metallic meteorite, the Hoba meteorite. It was discovered in 1920 and has not moved position since it collided into the Earth over 80,000 years ago. The large piece of rock has a weight of over 60 tonnes and is made of mainly iron and nickel. It is thought that the Earths atmosphere slowed the meteorite before it collided with the planet, leaving it almost completely intact. In 1955, the Hoba meteorite was declared a national monument and is attracting thousands of visitors each year.
Tsumeb has some excellent natural attractions. Northwest of the city lies the Otjikoto Lake, which was exposed when the roof of what used to be a large cave collapsed. The lake is small in appearance but is enormous in depth. It is estimated that areas of the lake are deeper than 142 metres. Also northwest of Tsumeb is Lake Guinas, this is a beautiful lake about 32km wide that is home to the cichlid fish, which is only found in this area of the world.
Tsumeb is one of the closest cities to Etosha National Park. The park is one of the greatest in Africa and is home to many different species of plant, birds and mammals, including vulnerable species such as elephants, lions, cheetahs and the white rhino. The park stretches over almost 5000 square kilometres of Namibia and is one of the largest game reserves in the world. You can take guided tours of the park or drive around in your own vehicle. Excellent accommodation is available at the park and there are many restaurant, pools and bar facilities for you to enjoy. You can watch the animals feeding around waterholes 24 hours a day, enjoy the spectacular scenery and there are even live reptile shows where you can learn more about snakes and lizards.
Shopping
You can find many tourist-oriented shops in Tsumeb, one of the most popular being the Arts and Crafts Centre where local craftsmen and artists sell their work. The centre also provides tuition to the artists and assists them to market their products. You can also find outdoor street markets on the outskirts of the city selling traditional Namibian wooden crafts.
Tsumeb has a thriving mining industry and you are likely to find many precious stones and crystals for sale. You are likely to come across azurite, green malachite, galena and many more; some of these minerals are found nowhere else in the world. To learn more about the minerals produced in Tsumeb, visit http://www.tsumeb.com. Tsumeb is receiving a lot of investment in its businesses and the economy is growing nicely, constantly increasing the available shopping facilities.
Nightlife and Eating Out
You can enjoy an evening at one of the many bars and restaurants are available in Tsumeb. Like many cities in Namibia you will find many places serving a variety of food and drink, with German and African style foods being the most common. At the Tsumeb Cultural Village there are many local cuisines on offer, including a drink called oshikundu, which is made from millet.
Tsumeb has many clubs and societies offering a range of leisure activities to suit everyone. You can find many sports clubs such as bowling, football, motor sports, swimming and more, plus a drama school and a scientific society.
Tourist Information
- The Tourism Centre, 1551 Omeg Allee, P.O. Box 779, Tsumeb
- Telephone Number: +264 67 22 0728
- Fax Number: +264 67 22 0916
Airport
There is one airport in Tsumeb; it is only a small airport with one 1450 metre landing strip. There are flights to and from the capital, Windhoek, a few times a week. However, there are currently efforts to make Tsumeb Airport into an international one, receiving flights between major African destinations. Should you need to travel between Windhoek and Tsumeb, there is a train line linking the two cities, which also links with other major Namibian and South African destinations. You could also take the main road linking Tsumeb with Windhoek; however, it would take a few hours to drive between the two cities.
