It is a typical hot summer’s day with not a cloud in sight. We left the cool sea breeze
behind the moment we turned onto the dusty two spoor track. The open landscape
quickly gave way to ravines as we drove up the Ugab River. It is 8 o’clock and 30⁰ C.
Under a fairly large tree just around the corner we decided to make breakfast. But this is no ordinary spot. Not too far from Rhino Camp and the old Brandberg-Wes mine, this
spot was regularly visited by the workers of the mine according to the legend. Hidden
among the intriguing shapes of the ravines is a small plaque reading: In memory of Hans & Herby, 16 October 1971, RIP.
Finding memoiral plagues is fairly common as the living try to remember those who
once walked the earth. But when finding one in a place that seems to know no time or
even the existence of man, one cannot help but to be intrigued. This little spot in the
Ugab River is well-known today as Hans and Herby.
In the north-central parts of Namibia, lies the visually dramatic area called Damaraland,
characterized by rugged rocks, prehistoric watercourses and granite koppies. The name
derives from the local people inhabiting the region. Damaraland is known for its
picturesque Brandberg mountain, which is Namibia’s highest mountain at 2 573m. This
is a well-known tourist destination, but for me the charm of Damaraland lies off the
beaten track, between what is known in German as the “Falt Bergen.”
Photo credits: Janke Murray
While exploring Damaraland it feels like you are the last ones left on earth, the
openness allows one to forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The geology of this
area is absolutely breathtaking.
This is what makes Namibia, different from any other country. Between the cracks in the
rocks, Namibia gives you slight evidence of the past and leaves the discoverer with
curiosity. The Hans and Herby ravine is only one of these mysterious places. Some say
the two died in a plane crash nearby; however, between the archives of Namibia a little
light is shed on the topic. It seems that Hans and Herby with some of their co-workers at
the Brandberg-Wes mine, were on their way when their vehicle crashed into a rock. The
driver was pulled out of the vehicle and had critical head injuries while Herbett Abbot
and Hans Peter Schmiedgen were trapped inside the vehicle. The passengers of the
second vehicle traveling with them tried their best to save Hans and Herby, but there
was no hope. Their rescue attempt was too late to save the young men. At only 20 and
28 years of age, they found their resting place in the cracks of the captivating mountains
of the Ugab River.
Namibia is not only rich in landscape and wildlife, but the stories of those who have
walked in her deserts are what makes this a destination like no other. When you least
expect it, the rocks of the desert might whisper tales that have long been kept hidden in
the Falt Bergen.
Author: Janke Murray