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Grootfontein

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

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Practical info — Grootfontein

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

Plan a detour to the famous Hoba Meteorite, just about 20 kilometers away, preferably in the cooler morning hours.
Tap water is generally safe to drink, but if you have a sensitive stomach, pick up bottled water at local supermarkets.
Always observe speed limits on rural roads as wildlife frequently crosses, especially at dusk and night.
Take advantage of the cooler morning hours for a comfortable visit to the old fort tower and local museum.

🍽 Food

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Biltong

Air-dried cured meat, a hugely popular Namibian snack. Buy it freshly cut from a local butcher in the town center.

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Kapana

Grilled beef cut into strips, often cooked fresh to order at small street stalls or open-air markets.

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Potjiekos

A traditional stew slowly cooked in a three-legged cast-iron pot, sometimes served at lodges or authentic local restaurants.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

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Traditional Wood Carvings

Look out for handicrafts made by locals, who sometimes display their wares along the main roads in or just outside town.

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Local Butcheries

By far the best place to buy fresh game meat for hosting a typical Namibian braai (barbecue).

🧘

The Old Fort Grounds

The green area surrounding the old colonial fort is peaceful, uncrowded, and historically interesting.

🧘

Jacaranda Avenues

When in purple bloom during spring (September/October), the tree-lined streets provide a beautiful, quiet walk.

Grootfontein is located in the Otavi Triangle in northern Namibia and serves as the administrative hub of the Otjozondjupa Region. Founded in 1885 by Dorsland Trekker settlers, the settlement was initially named Upingtonia before being renamed to reflect the abundant groundwater resources found in the area. The city's economy is primarily driven by cattle ranching and crop farming, supported by relatively high annual rainfall of approximately 550 mm. A major attraction nearby is the Hoba Meteorite, the largest known meteorite on Earth, which was discovered in 1920 on a neighboring farm. The town's architecture still displays remnants of the German colonial era, notably the Old Fort built in 1896, which now operates as a local museum. Grootfontein is also a vital transportation link on the B8 national road, connecting central Namibia with the Zambezi Region and neighboring countries to the northeast.

Location: Namibia
Nearby: Tsumeb (57 km)
Population: ~24.099 (2024)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Apr, Aug, Sep.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	25	24	23	21	18	15	15	18	23	26	26	26
Rain mm	134	90	80	31	3	0	0	0	3	28	68	98

Geography

Population

24,099 (2024)

Coordinates

-19.56670, 18.11670

Facts

Grootfontein was founded in 1885 by Dorsland Trekkers as the capital of the Upingtonia Republic.
The town is situated at an elevation of approximately 1,460 meters above sea level.
The nearby Hoba Meteorite weighs about 60 tons and is the world's largest known meteorite.
The historic Old Fort was established in 1896 by German colonial forces.
The region experiences an average annual rainfall of roughly 550 mm.
Grootfontein serves as the northern terminus for a major railway line from Windhoek.