Elizabeth Bay and Diamond Area Tour
Safari into the Restricted Diamond Area - Half Day Tour from Lüderitz
Discover Elizabeth Bay (E-Bay), an impressive diamond ghost town in the Sperrgebiet south of Lüderitz, on an exciting four-hour tour with “Bogenfels and Diamond Tours.” This excursion is ideal for travelers, such as cruise ship passengers, who do not have time for the nine-hour Bogenfels-Pomona tour.
Bogenfels and Diamond Tours from Lüderitz (a branch of the well-known Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Adventures from Swakopmund) hold a concession and have the appropriate vehicles to organize excursions to Elizabeth Bay.
The Elizabeth Bay excursion is a half-day tour that balances convenience with the thrill of stepping into a restricted, enigmatic past.
Specifications
- Guided 4x4 desert tour
- Elizabeth Bay (Diamond ghost town)
A short history of Elizabeth Bay
Elizabeth Bay - locally known as E-Bay - lies hidden within the forbidden Sperrgebiet (Diamond Area) and carries a haunting beauty and rich history waiting to be discovered. Built between 1924 and 1926, this abandoned mining town was an industrious settlement, powered by German engineering and labor, and reached an astonishing yield of 1.25 million carats before collapsing under the weight of the Great Depression in 1931. The residential areas finally emptied by 1940, and intermittent mining resumed only in 2021 under new ownership.
Images Copyright © Sandwich Harbour 4x4 / Bogenfels and Diamond Tours
Guided half-day tour: E-Bay diamond history excursion - A journey into Namibia’s forgotten gem legacy
You will be picked up from your accommodation in Lüderitz at around 08:45 and first driven to the Namdeb checkpoint at Kolmanskop. Here, a few registration forms must be completed before the actual excursion to E-Bay can take place. After the formalities, you will head south into the diamond Sperrgebiet (restricted area).
Uncovering the lost legacy of Elizabeth Bay - Along the route
Journey deeper into the heart of the desert as you trace the historic railway line between Kolmanskop and Elizabeth Bay—an artery once crucial for transporting heavy machinery, fuel, and water essential to the mining operations. Learn about the formidable logistical challenges these operations faced, including the transport of resources into this remote, arid region.
Elizabeth Bay exploration
Explore the skeletal remains of the mining village and separation plant, where decaying machinery, a once-grand entertainment hall, and a casino perch above the Atlantic - silent, desolate witnesses to a thriving past. Contrast is striking between the orderly housing for miners and the overcrowded quarters for local workers, illustrating the disparities of a bygone era. Panoramic views of the southern bay - and the distant Possession Island - serve as powerful backdrops for reflection on the area’s dual history of diamond mining and guano harvesting.
Coffee break in the Restricted Diamond area
Gather in the former mine manager’s house, where coffee, tea and biscuits await, along with static displays that offer deeper context to the stories you’ve witnessed. This intimate setting allows time for thoughtful reflection before the return journey.
Return to Lüderitz
The drive back is an ideal opportunity to discuss Namibia’s modern diamond mining landscape—its challenges, evolution, and what the future may hold. Expect to be back around 13:00.
Ideal activity for cruise ship passengers in Lüderitz
We are often asked by cruise ship passengers docking in Lüderitz which guided tours can be booked within the available time frame of their shore excursion.
The four-hour guided Elizabeth Bay Tour is ideal in this case, as the much longer Bogenfels Tour (9 hours) almost always exceeds the time available to cruise passengers.
So, if your cruise ship docks in Lüderitz between 08:45 and around 13:00, we can arrange for you to be picked up directly at the harbor.
What to bring for the Elizabeth Bay tour
- Comfortable attire
- Sun protection
- Camera
Minimum of 2 participants, with passport copies required 10 days before to secure permits for the Restricted Diamond Area.
Rates & Reservations
| Type | 2026 | 2027 |
| 01.01.26 - 31.12.26 | 01.01.27 - 31.12.27 | |
| Per Person (2 - 20 Adults) | N$ 3630 | N$ 3990 |
| Children under 12 years | N$ 2640 | N$ 2900 |
| Children under 4 years | N$ 1740 | N$ 1660 |
| The rates are per person | min. 2 people | ||
Booking enquiry
It’s our pleasure to book this activity for you. You will have no additional costs as we charge the public rates. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions.
