Otavi lies 366 kilometres north of Windhoek on the B1, at the southwestern corner of the Otavi Triangle. Tsumeb to the north is 65 kilometres away, Grootfontein to the northeast 92. This is where the B8 begins, running via Grootfontein to Rundu and the Caprivi. If you are heading northeast, Otavi is where you turn off.
- residents, 2023 census
- 10,756
- to Windhoek on the B1
- 366 km
- height of the Elefantenberg south of town
- 1,624 m
- German surrender at Khorab
- 1915
The Otavi hills around the town are dolomite. Mines once took copper and other ores out of them, and most of the deposits are now exhausted. More rain than in the south makes the land fertile, which is why the area is also called the Maize Triangle. Just over 7 kilometres south, the Elefantenberg rises to 1,624 metres.
For travellers Otavi is a stopover. In town and on the farms around it there are guesthouses and lodges, such as Gabus Game Ranch and Ohange Namibia Lodge. If you are driving from Etosha to the Caprivi, this is one place to break a long day.
Khorab 1915
In the First World War, South African troops advanced into the German colony from the south. Windhoek fell in May 1915. On 1 July 1915 the German colonial army lost a battle at Otavi, and eight days later it surrendered nearby, on the railway between Otavi and Khorab. For the German side, that was the end of the war in South West Africa.
A memorial stone outside Otavi has marked the surrender since 1973. The agreement signed there is known as the Treaty of Khorab.
Cement, gold and the railway
Otavi is a railway junction, where the line north towards Ondangwa splits from the branch to Grootfontein. As the ore ran out, the town declined, and in 2004 Otavi even lost its town status because of financial mismanagement.
Today, as of Otavi has been a town again since November 2010, after being downgraded to a village in 2004. Since 2007 the Ohorongo cement plant has operated between Otavi and Tsumeb, and since 2014 B2Gold's Otjikoto mine has been producing gold in the area. Both have brought jobs.
- Time needed
- a short stop on the B1, or one night on the way to the Caprivi
- From Windhoek
- 366 km, 275 minutes
Our tipIf you are driving from Etosha to Rundu, skip the detour via Otavi and take the direct road from Tsumeb to Grootfontein. Otavi makes sense if you are heading straight from Windhoek to the northeast.
Places to stay in Otavi
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Olienhoff Guesthouse
Olienhoff Plot 51 A Portion of the farm Klein
- Pool
- Parking
- Air conditioning
- Wi-Fi
from €64per night on 23 November 2026
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Gabus Game Ranch
10 km from Otavi located at D3031
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €258per night on 23 November 2026
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Otavi Vineyards Self-Catering & Camping
Farm Karolinenhof Portion 2 Number 512
- Pool
- Parking
- Pets allowed
- Wi-Fi
from €29per night on 23 November 2026
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Gelnhausen Game Lodge cc
Otavi Street
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Kitchen
- Parking
from €96per night on 23 November 2026
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Gabus Safari Lodge
Farm Gabus, D3031
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €163per night on 23 November 2026
Check prices on trivagoOtavi: frequently asked questions
What happened at Otavi and Khorab in 1915?
On 1 July 1915 the German colonial army lost a battle at Otavi against South African troops. On 9 July it surrendered on the railway between Otavi and Khorab, and a memorial stone from 1973 marks the event.
Which road leads from Otavi to Rundu?
The B8 begins in Otavi and runs via Grootfontein to Rundu and on into the Caprivi. Grootfontein is 92 kilometres from Otavi.
Why is the area around Otavi called the Maize Triangle?
Otavi, Tsumeb and Grootfontein form the Otavi Triangle. It gets more rain than southern Namibia, so farmers grow maize here, and the area is also known as the Maize Triangle.