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Khorixas

The heart of the "Damaraland"

Khorixas is home to about 13500 inhabitants and is situated in the Kunene Region. The name means „place of the Khori Bush“. Up to 1989 during South African administration the town was called Welwitschia. This name derived from the Welwitschia Mirabilis plant, which is found only in some parts of Namibia and Angola and which boasts some botanical specialities, for example it only has one pair of leaves and can become centuries old.

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Khorixas is the centre of the former Damaraland, which lies in the north-west of Namibia and which covers the area between the Erongo area and the Etosha Pan.

Khorixas is situated in a mountainous and rugged area and does not have much to offer. The surrounding area however has some spectacular highlights:

The Petrified Forest with tree trunks over 300 million years old is situated about 40 kilometres west of Khorixas.

A bit further on you’ll find Twyfelfontein with its famous rock engravings (a World Heritage Site since 2007), which are best visited in the afternoon to ensure the best light for taking photos.

The Brandberg Mountains are found approx. 150 km south of Khorixas. Here the world famous rock paintings (White Lady) are well worth a visit. A visit to these rock paintings is only allowed under guidance of local guides, who await tourists at the mountain. Furthermore the Brandberg boasts the highest peak, the Koenigsstein (2573 m) in Namibia, of which the ascent takes several days, accompanied by an experienced guide.

Further touristic destinations are the so-called organ pipes (basalt pillars found in a gorge along the D3254), the Vingerklip, a 35 meter high rock formation with an circumference of about 44 metres and last but not least the well worth seeing Living Museum of the Damara close to Twyfelfontein.

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