The Kuiseb rises in the Khomas Highland west of Windhoek and reaches the Atlantic between Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour. In the Hakos Mountains it has cut a gorge about 20 metres wide on average and up to 200 metres deep. The C14 crosses the canyon about 94 kilometres north of Solitaire, on a bridge built in 1965. From there it is roughly 138 kilometres on to Walvis Bay.
- depth of the gorge
- up to 200 m
- C14 bridge over the Kuiseb
- 1965
- steepest gradient of the C14, on the Kuiseb Pass
- 1 in 9
- Henno Martin and Hermann Korn go into hiding
- 1940
The Kuiseb rarely flows. Between 1837 and 1977 it reached the sea only 14 times, and in January 2005 it did so for the first time in years. Further west it becomes a boundary. South of it red dunes rise over 150 metres, north of it lie pale gravel and rock plains. The wind pushes the sand north, and the riverbed stops it. Beneath the bed lies groundwater that supplies Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.
The canyon is famous because of two Germans. The geologists Henno Martin and Hermann Korn had come to South West Africa in 1935, mapping rock and looking for water for farmers. War meant internment. In 1940 they fled into the Namib and hid in the Kuiseb Canyon. They lived there by hunting for over two years, two and a half according to most sources.
Carp Cliff
Their first hideout was an overhanging rock above the canyon, facing south, so it gave shade for most of the day. They called it Carp Cliff. There were pools in the dry riverbed, and carp swam in them. Later the two moved on to other hiding places.
In 1942 they gave up because Korn was suffering from a deficiency disease. They were not interned, and before the war ended the administration had given them work. Henno Martin later wrote down the story. His book first appeared in German and later in English as The Sheltering Desert, and it was made into a film of the same name.
Stopping at the pass
There is a viewpoint over the canyon on the C14, and a parking area bears the name of the first hideout. Remains of the stone walls at Carp Cliff still stand, and the site is now protected as part of the Namib-Naukluft Park. You need no permit on the main road. Leave it to drive deeper into the park, and you do.
Take the bends slowly. The Kuiseb Pass has the steepest gradient on the C14, 1 in 9, and some bends have no guard rail. After heavy rain the river can close the pass briefly, as it did for a day in March 2026.
- Time needed
- half an hour to an hour as a stop on the C14
- Cost
- no fee for stopping on the C14; away from the main road a permit and the Namib-Naukluft park fee apply (as of October 2026)
- When
- on the drive between Solitaire and Walvis Bay, ideally not in the midday heat; after heavy rain ask about the pass first
Our tipRead Henno Martin's book before your trip, or take it with you. At Carp Cliff you will then stand in the place you know from its first chapters.
Places to stay in Solitaire
AdvertisementThe links lead to trivago. If you book through them we receive a commission; it does not influence the selection. Prices are examples for the night shown.
The Desert Grace
Nelson Mandela Street 42
- Pool
- Spa
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
from €553per night on 12 May 2027
Check prices on trivago
Namib Desert Camping2Go
C19 35 km south of
- Parking
from €112per night on 23 November 2026
Check prices on trivago
Soft Adventure Camp
Namnau Habitat, C19, 18 Km South Of
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €128per night on 11 August 2027
Check prices on trivagoKuiseb Canyon: frequently asked questions
Who were Henno Martin and Hermann Korn?
Henno Martin and Hermann Korn were German geologists who hid in the Kuiseb Canyon from 1940 to avoid internment by South Africa. After more than two years they returned in 1942 because Korn was ill. Martin described the time in his book The Sheltering Desert.
Do you need a permit for Kuiseb Canyon?
You need no permit to stop at Kuiseb Canyon on the C14, as the main road through Namib-Naukluft Park is open to all. If you leave the road to drive deeper into the park, you need a permit from the environment ministry.
How deep is Kuiseb Canyon?
Kuiseb Canyon is up to 200 metres deep and about 20 metres wide on average. It lies in the Hakos Mountains, where the C14 between Solitaire and Walvis Bay crosses the Kuiseb.
Does the Kuiseb River carry water?
The Kuiseb rarely flows. Between 1837 and 1977 it reached the Atlantic only 14 times; most of the time its bed is dry, with groundwater flowing beneath it.