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From Hillock to little Gem
 In the Kunene region on the junction C39 and C38 that leads to Etosha National Park lays the very enchanting town of Outjo, jealously camouflaged by hillocks, woodland and savannah.
Outjo is translated as ‘place on the rocks’ or ‘little hills’. In Herero it means cone-shaped hills.
In 2006 this town celebrates its 126 years of existence.
The area first belonged to Herero people, but it soon changed in 1880 when hawker and adventurer by heart, Tom Lambert, decided to settle here – taking his...hopefully... equally inspired famil y with him.
Originally from the Cape, Lambert bought 1800 ha from Herero Captain Manassa, who in turn gave him permission to commercially trade with the local inhabitants – then known asTopnaars-Hottentotte.
In 1897 Runderpest broke out in the area and the German Colonial Government, “Schutztruppe” under Hauptmann von Estdorff was stationed in Outjo to restore law and order and to prevent cattle from the far North, carrying the disease, from entry into the area.
The Schutztruppe soon established a new district between the Ugab and Kunene River and Hauptmann Ludwig von Estdorff became the district magistrate.
The first stand of land was rightfully presented to Tom Lambert in 1898 while Hermann Salpeter, a retired ‘Schutztruppe’ became the second land owner. In 1899 a stone house was built by Hauptmann von Estdorff. The stone house was later occupied by Major Victor Franke promoted to the title following his military success in Omaruru. The Victor Franke House is today a museum of local history.
The historical Water Tower, built out of stone, was completed in March 1901. In 1902 the population in Outjo reached 209 of which 159 were German speaking. Sadly a great drought and small pox broke out the following year and the whole community had to be vaccinated.
The development came to a standstill when the Herero War broke out in 1904 and the population decreased to 62 people. Fortunately development continued later on.
With the First World War the Schutztruppe were under threat by South Africa and the British Troops in the South. In October 1914 a German delegation went across the Angolan border to the Portuguese Fort Naulila to negotiate a non-aggression treaty. It was all in vain when the men were shot and consequently a field company under the command of Major Victor Franke went on a punitive expedition. They managed to conquer Fort Naulila and a monument was erected in memory of the men who were murdered or died during the punitive expedition. Today the Naulila Monument is in the German Cemetery next to the Post Office.
The year 1920 marked the introduction of the first magistrate, Mr. L.C. Albertyn who stayed until 11 May 1923. The following year the first European school was established and the year 1925 introduced the first Town Council.
In 1944 Outjo was declared a municipality and rapid development followed the Second World War in 1949. In 1975 political uncertainty and drought strangled progress. Development in Outjo continued in drips and drabs.
Like the rest of Namibia Outjo experienced hardship in the 1990 Independence Struggle. In the stabile period of 1992 the town recovered and houses were restored. New buildings also flourished in this period of jubilation.
Attractions:
The Etosha National Park, 100 km north of Outjo is probably one of the most popular tourist locations. Etosha means “great white place” and the massive mineral pan forms part of the Kalahari Basin that was formed 1000 million years ago. The Pan covers 25 percent of the National Park.
Other attractions are evolutionary wonders, like the Gamkarab Caves, the Ugab Vingerklip and the Petrified Forest.
The Gamkarab Cave, 50 km north east of Outjo, features stalactites and stalagmites as well as an underground cave.
Ninety Five kilometres west en route to Khorixas the Ugab Vingerklip dominates the landscape. This stone formation is 35 meter high and owes its finger-shape to erosion. The Vingerklip Lodge strategically nests in its shadows to lure tourists travelling between Etosha and the Coast. At the adjacent farm, Omburo Ost, rock paintings depicting an interesting area in history can be viewed.
The Petrified Forrest (140 km west of Outjo) has some of the oldest trees in the world. The trees, estimated to be 250 million years old, were deposited to the area by a flood that came from the North. The origin is supported by research into the rootless and branchless trunks.
Sources:
National Archive, Windhoek
Outjo Museum
Naulila by E.L.P Stals in Historia, no 3, September 1968
Allgemeine Zeitung 1933-07-07
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