Brandberg
Namibia’s Highest Mountain
The Brandberg Mountain, located in Namibia’s Erongo Region, is the country’s tallest mountain range, rising dramatically from the surrounding plains. Positioned about 90 km inland from the Atlantic Ocean, the Brandberg spans roughly 760 square kilometers and towers around 2,000 meters above the surrounding landscape, with an average elevation of 2,500 meters.
The mountain gets its name—"Brandberg" or "Fire Mountain"—from the vivid red and orange hues it displays during sunset, making it appear as though it’s burning. The nearest town is Uis, around 30 km away, where visitors can find various accommodation options.
Königstein – Namibia’s Highest Peak
The highest point of the range is Königstein, standing at 2,573 meters, making it the tallest mountain in Namibia. Hiking to the summit is possible but best done during the cooler, drier months from April to September due to the harsh desert conditions.
Ancient Rock Art
Brandberg is renowned for its incredible San rock paintings, with an estimated 50,000 artworks scattered across caves and rock shelters throughout the massif. These paintings are believed to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old and include vivid depictions of hunters, warriors, and a wide variety of animals, suggesting a time when wildlife was much more plentiful in the area.
The Famous White Lady
The most well-known of these artworks is the “White Lady”, a rock painting about 45 cm tall, discovered in 1917 by German explorer Reinhard Maack, who was also the first European to climb Königstein. He believed the figure represented a warrior, but in 1955, French priest Henri Breuil suggested the figure resembled a woman from Greek art—hence the name "White Lady," which has stuck, despite modern scholars believing the figure is likely a male shaman or hunter.
Visitors can reach the White Lady by taking a 5 km guided hike through the Tsisab Gorge. To protect the site from vandalism, all guests must be accompanied by a guide, and the area is now protected behind bars. In some cases, flash photography is restricted to help preserve the ancient artwork.
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