Brandberg Mountain Hike

The Brandberg Mountain, located at the edge of the Namib Desert, is the highest mountain in Namibia. It is an isolated circular massif of granite that rises more than 2000 m above the surrounding desert.

The Königstein summit is the highest point in Namibia, at 2573 m above sea level. The mountain can be reached via the road from Uis leading to the “White Lady” rock painting in the Tsisab Gorge. The small town Uis is about 30 km away and offers overnight facilities.

The reddish colour of the weathered granite surfaces that have a scarlet glow in the setting sun led to the mountain's German name, which is translated as “burning mountain”, as well as Doreb in the Damara language, meaning "pile of ash".

The Brandberg Hike is an adventurous activity for those that crave a challenge, and guarantees an unforgettable experience. While hiking, you will experience the captivating landscape, with boulders, steep cliffs and imposing rock formations along the way.

The hike normally takes 3 days. You will arrive at the Brandberg Rest Camp in the afternoon to meet your guide. The Rest Camp offers room and campsite accommodation, and meals can be enjoyed at the restaurant.

The next morning (Day 1) of your hike, you will be transferred to the hike starting point. From here, you will climb up the Wasserval Plain (about 1000 m). On Day 2, the guide will take you up to Königstein peak and back with a day pack. On Day 3, you will return to the pick-up point where you will be met with a cold beverage and transferred back to the Rest Camp.

A permit and guide are mandatory!

The hike is dependent on the availability of drinking water on the mountain. Water can be hauled up at an additional cost - but this is expensive. Because of lack of water availability and the soaring temperatures in the summer months, it is recommended to hike the Brandberg in the cooler winter months between April and September.

The mountain has a wide variety of rare and remarkable plant species that live in isolation at high altitudes, and is home to an array of animal life that takes advantage of the numerous water sources, as well as rare birds.

The mountain was once inhabited by hunter-gatherer communities that inhabited the upper mountain reaches during the dry season, until the first appearance of the nomadic livestock farming system about 1000 years ago.

More than 1000 sites with ancient rock art have been recorded, some with hundred or more paintings, including the famous "White Lady" discovered in 1917 by the German explorer and geologist Reinhard Maack.