Ghost Town Tours, under the entrepreneurial and pioneering guidance of Cicely Burgess, earned the concession for Kolmanskop in 2022. The first order of business was renovating the casino, turnhalle, and museum to their former glory, including restoring the original paint decals on the walls. The old diamond room, closed for many years, has reopened and stocks Namibian diamonds mined in the Sperrgebiet. In red-velvet-lined display cases, the splintered sparkle of diamonds in the late morning sun will leave visitors starry-eyed. With an official GIA Diamond Origin Report, what better place to buy a Namibian diamond than at the birthplace of the diamond industry?

While the main building features a curio shop for those classic African souvenirs loved by many, the Kolmanskop Boutique is a curated collection of exclusively Namibian-crafted products. Leather bags, wallets, and shoes expertly manufactured by Leon Engelbrecht Design have pride of place on a decommissioned door-turned-table, some of which include gold embossed Kolmanskop Boutique customisation. Indigenous Namibian flora, including the iconic quiver and camelthorn trees, is showcased in Emssence’s hand-made loungewear, scarves, table linen, and body products. Crafted from sustainably sourced cotton and linen material, the timeless designs of .about clothing include men’s button-up shirts, easy ladies’ dresses and tailored trousers. From the collection of jewellery wizard Elze Eigelaar, some of the country’s most iconic birds are immortalised in sterling silver necklace pendants and other authentically Namibian pieces. The boutique is arguably the first of its kind in Namibia, focussed on shining a spotlight on locally crafted items that transcend the curio classification.

Commanding four large rooms, the Ilford Galerie showcases the very best Namibian landscape, wildlife, and Kolmanskop photography. Ilford is synonymous with professional photo paper as one of the oldest photographic brands in the industry. The photographic works of Alexander Heinrichs, Jandre Germishuizen, Michael Poliza and Wim van den Heever are exhibited at Kolmanskop and undoubtedly inspire awe in all who stroll through the space. Even in the Black and White room, which features emotive, high contrast, monochrome photography, the images truly bounce off the walls, a testament to the power of Ilford paper and Namibia’s photographic allure.

Beyond these new and improved visual and shopping spaces, Kolmanskop welcomes a new approach to touring the historic town. One-hour guided tours depart from the coffee shop daily at 9:30 and 11:00, but audio tours can be purchased and downloaded from the Voice Map app for the more leisurely and curious visitor. This modern approach to exploring Kolmanskop means that no tidbit of fascinating information goes missing in the excitement of a tour. However, it is still highly recommended that you remove your headphones and listen to the ghosts whistling now and again.

As a new era for Kolmanskop dawns, there has never been a better time to uncover the secrets of this weird and wonderful place. With Ghost Town Tours at the helm, there are plenty more special experiences on the horizon, making this surreal town in the desert a destination to return to time and time again. And as the sands of time fill every corner and find resting place on windowsills, exploring the weatherbeaten and forlorn ghost town beacons the question: how long till the desert claims back everything, and Kolmanskop becomes a fossil? TN