The Petrified Forest lies about 45 kilometres west of Khorixas on the C39, on the way to Twyfelfontein. It is not a forest. Dozens of fossilised trunks, many broken into sections, lie in the gravel on a site of roughly 300 by 800 metres. It has been a national monument since 1 March 1950, a few years after farmers discovered the trunks.
- national monument since 1 March
- 1950
- years old, 240 to 300 depending on the source
- about 280 million
- longest trunks, depending on the source
- 30 to 45 m
- west of Khorixas on the C39
- about 45 km
The trees did not grow here. There are no roots, so the trunks are thought to be driftwood, carried downstream by a great flood and buried under sand, probably from what is now Angola. Without air the wood did not rot. Instead silica seeped in and turned it to stone cell by cell. The usual figure for their age is about 280 million years, with estimates ranging from 240 to 300 million.
You cannot walk the site on your own. A guide from the entrance takes you along a path of about 800 metres, which takes around 40 minutes. The guide is included in the fee. On the way you hear how wood becomes stone, and you are shown the welwitschias growing between the trunks.
How long the biggest trunk is depends on whom you ask. Figures range from 30 through 34 and 40 up to 45 metres. The sources do not agree on the type of wood either. Geologists assign the trunks to the form genus Dadoxylon, while guidebooks usually call them Cordaites, early relatives of the conifers.
Many welwitschias (Welwitschia mirabilis) grow between the trunks, the plant on Namibia's coat of arms. It consists of a root, a short stem and just two leaves, which fray over the years.
Not even a splinter
The site became a national monument because souvenir hunters had already been carrying off wood. So take nothing, not even a fragment from the ground. According to a travel blog, the penalty is at least N$ 5,000 or a year in prison (as of October 2026).
Along the C39, farmers also advertise their own petrified trunks and will show you round for a tip. You will recognise the state-run site by the entrance with a small shop and a bar.
Fees
Fees are set by the National Heritage Council. Under its latest published tariff, foreign adults pay N$ 270 and adults from SADC countries N$ 100, guide included (as of October 2026). One travel blog still quotes N$ 250 for foreigners. Bring the right cash, as you will need cash for Twyfelfontein further west anyway.
- Time needed
- just under an hour with the guided walk
- Cost
- guided tour N$ 270 per person for foreign adults, N$ 100 for adults from SADC countries (latest published National Heritage Council tariff, as of October 2026)
- When
- early morning or late afternoon, especially in summer
Our tipFit the Petrified Forest into the drive between Khorixas and Twyfelfontein. It lies right on the C39, and the guided walk takes less than an hour.
Places to stay in Khorixas
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.
Damara Mopana Lodge
23 km from the town centre
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €226per night on 22 February 2027
Check prices on trivago
Damara Mopane Lodge
Farm 68 Witklip
- Breakfast
from €186per night on 22 February 2027
Check prices on trivagoPetrified Forest: frequently asked questions
How old is the Petrified Forest in Namibia?
The trunks in the Petrified Forest near Khorixas are 240 to 300 million years old, depending on the source. The figure most often given is about 280 million years.
Did the trees in the Petrified Forest grow there?
The trunks in the Petrified Forest near Khorixas have no roots and did not grow there. They are thought to be driftwood, washed in by a great flood and buried under sand.
Do you need a guide for the Petrified Forest?
The Petrified Forest near Khorixas can only be visited with a guide from the entrance. The walk is about 800 metres long, takes around 40 minutes and is included in the fee.
Can you take petrified wood home?
You may not take any piece from the Petrified Forest near Khorixas, which has been a national monument since 1950. According to a travel blog, the penalty is a heavy fine or prison.