Oranjemund Opens To The World

Hidden away in the most south-western corner of NamIbia exists a gem of a town, unknown to most. Oranjemund. Here our timeless desert sands, ancient beaches, river terraces, and the cold Atlantic Ocean tell the story that begins with the discovery of alluvial diamonds.

Oranjemund owes its existence to the diamond mining activities along the coast and on the banks of the Orange River. It was established as a mining town in 1936, after the initial diamond rush at Kolmanskop close to Luderitzbucht. Oranjemund started with just a few buildings and has developed over time to house more than 10,000 residents. Until recently, the town’s infrastructure and services were run solely by Namdeb Diamond Corporation. Our exclusive and mysterious town was mostly restricted to employees and relatives. If you were not a resident or invited, you were denied access. But not anymore.

In 2011 Oranjemund was proclaimed as a town. A year later the very first local authority was elected and the Oranjemund Town Council was formed. A new tarred road connecting Oranjemund with Rosh Pinah, the //Kharas region, and the rest of Namibia was completed. By the end of 2017, permits were no longer required.

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