Brukkaros
A ring-shaped mountain rising from the plain. Its crater, about 2 km across, can be hiked into, and a climb to the rim offers views over the Kalahari grasslands.
Brukkaros Mountain stands 1,590 m above sea level, rising about 600 m above the flat semi-desert. Its nearly perfectly circular crater formed around 80 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period. It is in fact a ring structure created when underground magma met water, triggering steam explosions that lifted the rock layers. There is a basic campsite at the foot. From the parking area, it takes about an hour on foot along a gully to reach the crater floor, then a climb to the southern rim gives views over the endless grasslands below. Remains of a Smithsonian Institution solar observatory from the 1930s are also found on the summit. The round trip takes about 3–4 hours with no shade, so bring plenty of water and sun protection, and avoid midday in summer. It lies about 90 km north of town. Take the B1 highway, then a gravel road. Road conditions are fair, and a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
Opening hours
All day (daytime recommended)
Nearby sights
- Quiver Tree Forest
- Giant's Playground
- Imperial Post Office (Kaiserliches Postamt)
- Keetmanshoop Museum (Rhenish Mission Church)
- Mesosaurus Fossil Site