Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Petrified Forest
(per person/car N$40/20; sunrise-sunset)
The petrified forest is an area of open veld
scattered with petrified tree trunks up to 34m long and 6m in circumference, which are es-
timated to be around 260 million years old. The original trees belonged to an ancient
group of cone-bearing plants that are known as
Gymnospermae,
which includes such
modern plants as conifers, cycads and welwitschias. Because of the lack of root or branch
remnants, it's thought that the trunks were transported to the site in a flood.
About 50 individual trees are visible, some half buried in sandstone and many perfectly
petrified in silica - complete with bark and tree rings. In 1950, after souvenir hunters had
begun to take their toll, the site was declared a national monument, and it's now strictly
forbidden to carry off even a small scrap of petrified wood. Guides are compulsory.
The Petrified Forest, signposted 'Versteende Woud', lies 40km west of Khorixas on the
C39.
NATURAL SITE
Wondergat
Wondergat is an enormous sinkhole with daunting views into the subterranean world.
Turn west off the D3254, 4km north of the D2612 junction. It's about 500m further on to
Wondergat.
NATURAL SITE
Sleeping & Eating
Campsites such as Aba Huab Camp beside a riverbed (immediately north of the Twyfelf-
ontein turn-off) are worth trying if you're on a budget, although we've heard very mixed
reports regarding this place, including that it's in a pretty bad state of disrepair. Otherwise,
there are mainly luxury, upmarket options near the rock-art site.
Camp Kipwe $$$
( 232009, 687211;
www.kipwe.com
; r with half board per person N$1800; )
Brilli-
antly located among the boulders and rocks littered throughout its premises, Kipwe is lan-
guidly draped over the stunning landscape in very unobtrusive large
rondavels
with
thatched roofs that blend in beautifully with their surrounds. There are nine standard
rooms and one honeymoon suite (rooms 3 and 4 are family rooms with kids' tents); all
come with outdoor bathrooms so you can stargaze while you wash. Great views from the
dining/lounge area - catch the breeze with your cocktail. The lodge also runs nature drives
(N$540) and excursions to the rock art. The entrance to Kipwe is just across the road
(D2612) from the entrance to Mowani Mountain Camp.
LODGE
