Grootfontein (Afrikaans for big fountain) is a friendly town with about 25 000 inhabitants in north-eastern Namibia. The Herero call it Otjiwanda tjongue meaning 'leopards’ hill'. Today no leopards can be seen, but instead the purple jacaranda blossoms and red flamboyants in September and October roam the streets.
We recommend the following day trips:
Livestock auctions take place every Wednesday just outside Grootfontein. Buy a Brahman bull! Try local food, talk to farmers or just silently enjoy the busy scene from the stand.
In late September the Grootfontein Show, an annual agricultural exhibition with local festivities takes place.
Makalani palm tree landscape (25km) - Just southeast of Grootfontein thousands and thousands of Makalani palm trees decorate the countryside. The palm tree has Makalani fruits. They can be collected and fermented into a traditional drink called Ombike. Decorative patterns can be carved into the hard inner kernel. Because of its colour it is also known as "plant ivory".
Ghaub-caves (50km) - In 1914 the Ghaub-caves were first mentioned in geological surveys. They were (re-)discovered on the farm Ghaub, which was a mission station back then. The Dragon's Breath Hole on farm Harasib is a cave which contains the words largest underground lake! The lake is some 66m underneath ground level and has a size of 3 football fields. It was discovered in 1986.