Tsumeb

Tsumeb sits on one of the most remarkable ore bodies ever mined: a pipe of copper, lead and zinc that has produced over two hundred and fifty mineral species, several dozen of them described here first and some found nowhere else on Earth. Collectors worldwide know the name. The town museum holds a mineral collection along with the artillery recovered from Lake Otjikoto and material on the region's history. The town itself is green and shaded, unusual in the north.

Background

Tsumeb was founded in 1905 and has lived mainly from mining ever since. The ore pipe reaches at least 1,300 m down, almost straight, through Precambrian Otavi dolomite, and most of it was taken out during the 20th century; the lower workings are now closed. The catalogue of minerals from the deposit runs to at least 170 species, 20 of them found nowhere else, and the International Union of Geological Sciences lists it among 100 geological heritage sites worldwide. The town lies at 1249 m and had 34,960 residents in 2023. Hoba, the largest meteorite in the world, a nickel-iron mass of about 60 tonnes, lies about forty minutes' drive southeast at Hoba West.

Source: Wikipedia, "Tsumeb"

Highlights

• The mineral collection - specimens from an ore body that produced over 250 species.
• The recovered artillery - German guns raised from Lake Otjikoto in the museum.
• The mine history - displays on a century of working the pipe.
• The tree-lined town - jacarandas and flamboyants through the streets.

When to go

March to October is the cooler window. The museum keeps weekday hours with a midday break. Summer brings heat and afternoon storms.

Before you go

The mine is closed to visitors and the workings cannot be seen. The museum is small and its hours are limited. The town is otherwise a functional northern centre.

Nearby

Lake Otjikoto is northwest, and Etosha is west.

Key facts