101 Reasons to visit Namibia: Burnt mountain

The sky is filled with dark clouds and in the distance the thunder rumbles. The smell of 
rain brings peace. As far as the eye can see, the green grass covers the earth – a sight 
very rare to this area. The green grass forms a strong contrast against the black hill in the background. Although the green grass itself a miraculous sight, it is the black mountain that captivates! This is no ordinary black looking mountain; rather one that looks like as it was on fire just a few days ago.

North of Windhoek, about 5 hours from the mother city, lies the Burnt Mountain. This 
area, better known as Damaraland, does not receive a lot of rain. For the last few years,
this region was barren and desolate. But the rain has finally come after years of drought 
and the desert is covered with a green blanket of grass and new life! The Burnt Mountain
on the other hand is still blackish with only a hint of greenery. 

In Afrikaans this mountain is called “Verbrande Berg” which translates to Burnt 
Mountain. The name suits the mountain perfectly as it truly looks like has burnt. This 
ash black mountain is a 12 kilometres long volcanic ridge formed by thermal and 
compression metamorphism. At first glance the mountain appears black, but a closer 
look reveals the red, brown, cream and purple hues that create stunning contrasts at 
dusk. Since 15 September 1956 the Burnt Mountain has been declared a national 
monument of Namibia.

Photo credits: Kellie Paxian

Damaraland, has many hidden treasures. Just across the road of the Burnt Mountain, is 
another phenomenon – the Organ Pipes. This rock formation comprises of a group of 
columnar basalts that looks like organ pipes. According to geologists the pipes formed 
because of the intrusion of liquid lava into a slate rock formation, which was then 
exposed to erosion over time.

The Burnt Mountain and Organ Pipes are truly fascinating to see and one cannot help 
but to imagine lava flowing here once upon a time! This is why the Burnt Mountain of 
Namibia is worth the visit and if one is lucky enough, this part of the world has received 
good rain, making the Burnt Mountain a truly spectacular sight. The desert is 
transformed into an oasis of water and green hues that cover the brown landscape, 
emphasizing the Burnt Mountain.

Those who love geology will find this place intriguing. However, be warned that the 
temperature can be quite high, so make sure to drink plenty of water and wear a hat. 
After a day of exploring visitors can conclude their day at the nearby lodge, 
Twyfelfontain, where they can further admire some impressive Bushman paintings.

Author: Janke Murray