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The
discovery of diamonds in the early 1900s led to
an uncontrolled diamond
rush in Namibia. In 1908, under proclamation by
the
German colonial |
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| government to control
diamond mining in Namibia, the area between Lüderitz
and the Orange River was declared a restricted
area (“Sperrgebiet”) accessible only
to the Dernburg Company. The proclamation forced
prospectors to the north of Lüderitz where
the |
| discovery of diamonds at Oystercliffs,
Saddle Hill and Meob Bay in 1908 led to yet another
diamond rush. By 1910, more than 500 claims had
been registered and the mining |
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| towns Charlottenfelder,
Conception Bay, Holstia and Fishersbrun mushroomed
deep within the oldest desert in the world, the
Namib. |
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| Miners lived,
prospected, thrived and died amidst the most challenging
living conditions and difficult circumstances of
the hostile desert environment. During the height of production there were between |
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| 600 and 700 people in the
area whose every need, ranging from the basic provision
of water and supplies for sheer survival to the
supply of equipment , had to be |
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transported from
the coastal town Swakopmund via Sandwich Harbour
by ship or the cutter Viking to theseremote diamond towns. Due to the lack of
firewood a daily warm meal was not prepared at times |
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for
a
period of
eight months. One of the unique futures of the
Treasure Trail are visits to the remains of these
towns which have not been accessible for the last
century. |
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In 1909 a Customs
and Police Station was opened at Conception Bay.
In 1912 an agreement was reached to invest more
than 300 000 marks in the construction of a light
railway and water pipeline from Meob Bay to the
mining towns. The
railway transported mining equipment from. At |
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| Conception
Bay a number of pre-fabricated buildings were constructed
including a large shed for the storage of perishable
supplies; one for fodder and oats for the horses,
mules and camels; sleeping quarters for employees;
a smithy and a store room for spares and equipment
used in the diamonond diggings. |
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With the proclamation
of the area between Lüderitz and Walvis Bay
as Diamond Area No. 2, the legislated strict control
in and over this area has been lifted and, for
the first |
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| time
in the history of Namibia, been opened again to
the public. The Belvedere
Safari
Company has been granted a concession to assist
the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in the
management of the area. |
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