Oranjemund and the diamond coast

Orange River mouth, south-west Namibia · first went 2004

A town that was off-limits for most of its life, at the mouth of the river.

For decades Oranjemund was a company town inside the diamond area, and you needed a permit just to visit. Now you can drive in, which still feels slightly illicit. It's a neat, green, odd little place with a golf course, wind, fog and a lot of very serious fences.

I rode in on the 2004 trip mostly because I'd been told I couldn't. Honestly the best bit is the river mouth and the birds. The diamonds stay where they are.

Plan a trip here

Opens the planner with Oranjemund and the diamond coast as your finish. Set where you start and how many days, and it works out the route, fuel, night stops and weather.

Get there

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Good to know

Stay on the public roads. The restricted area is still restricted, and they mean it.
It's cold and foggy far more often than you'd expect in a desert.
Fuel and supplies are in town.

The trip it's from

Namaqualand, the Orange River mouth and |Ai-|AisNorthern Cape · Southern Namibia · 4 days. Open it, change it, ride it.

Places change. Check opening times and conditions before you go.