Otjikoto Lake is one of the only two natural lakes in Namibia, formed by a collapsed karst cave. It is located 20 kilometers outside of Tsumeb, Namibia, near the main road B1.

The lake has a diameter of 102 meters and a vertical depth of only 142 meters. The water at the bottom turns downward, and no one knows how deep it goes. “Otjikoto” comes from the Otjiherero language, meaning “deep hole,” while the local original inhabitants, the San people, call it “Gaisis,” meaning very ugly. The first Europeans to discover this lake were the British Francis Galton and the Swede Carl Johan Andersson in 1851 while searching for Lake Ngami.

There is a fascinating legend that during World War I, the German troops stationed here encountered a much larger British force. After nearly a year of fighting, they eventually surrendered. These stubborn Germans threw all their weapons and equipment into the lake, including a large number of lead-sealed safes containing 6 million gold marks. The Namibian government has no plans for treasure hunting, and there have been no salvage activities by foreign explorers. The sunken safes remain a mystery to this day.

Today, Otjikoto Lake presents itself as a circular surface, very quiet, with only faint ripples visible; very pure, with hardly any impurities; and very green, as if the natural greenery has been refined and poured into this place. Standing on the shore, one can see endless shades of green hidden in the lake, glistening and radiating.

Reasons to Visit Otjikoto Lake:

– One of Namibia’s most magical natural lakes

Continent: Africa

Country: Namibia

Region: Oshikoto Region

City: Tsumeb