The Quiver Tree Forest lies about 15 kilometres northeast of Keetmanshoop on Gariganus farm. Quiver trees grow in many places across southern Namibia, but usually alone. Here 250 to 300 of them stand together on one hill, which is why the place is called a forest even though it does not look like one. It has been a national monument since 1 June 1955.
- quiver trees on the hill
- 250 to 300
- national monument since 1 June
- 1955
- height of most trees
- about 5 m
- northeast of Keetmanshoop
- 15 km
Botanically the quiver tree is not a tree but an aloe, classified since 2013 in a genus of its own as Aloidendron dichotomum. It stores water in its thick trunk and branches. Most of the trees on the hill are about five metres tall and 200 to 300 years old. The name comes from the San, who hollowed out the soft branches and used them to carry their arrows.
Right next door is Giant's Playground, where dolerite boulders lie on top of each other as if someone had stacked them. They are the product of block weathering, with a dark desert varnish on the surface. A circular trail takes a little over half an hour.
The quiver tree is a stem succulent. Its tissue has large cells that hold water for a long time, and the trees can reach nine metres. Until it is about 20 years old a quiver tree looks like an ordinary fleshy aloe. Only then does it grow upwards, branch out and flower for the first time.
The governor Simon van der Stel was the first to write the name down on an expedition, and in Afrikaans the tree is still called kokerboom. In June and July the trees put out yellow flowers about 30 centimetres tall, at a time when the heat in the south is still bearable. The forest is at its best in the light of the setting sun. Sociable weavers nest in the branching crowns, and a single tree can shelter a communal nest of several hundred birds.
The Afrikaans name is less flattering: Vratteveld, the field of warts, because the rocks are scattered across the land like warts. Quiver trees grow between the boulders too, and that is where the well-known photos are taken.
Today, as of October 2026Gariganus farm now runs the Quivertree Forest Rest Camp with campsites and rooms. Reports on the entry fee differ: visitors in March and June 2026 paid N$ 130 per person, one in January 2026 was quoted N$ 250. According to that report only cash was accepted; older listings mention cards too. The cheetah feeding we saw in 2005 is still listed by operators as a daily afternoon event, with no time given anywhere. And in March 2026 Giant's Playground was still poorly signposted.
- Time needed
- two to three hours for the forest and Giant's Playground
- Cost
- entry fee per person, N$ 130 or 250 depending on the report (as of October 2026)
- When
- late afternoon; flowering in June and July
Our tipVisit Giant's Playground first and save the Quiver Tree Forest for the last hour before sunset. Bring cash for the entry fee.
Places to stay in Keetmanshoop
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Quiver Inn Guesthouse
Pastorie Street 8
- Pool
- Kitchen
- Parking
- Air conditioning
from €66per night on 18 November 2026
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Larochelle Guesthouse
6 ave no 12 Town area
- Pool
- Parking
- Air conditioning
- Fireplace
from €56per night on 23 November 2026
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Schuetzenhaus Guesthouse
Pastorie Street
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €90per night on 23 November 2026
Check prices on trivagoQuiver Tree Forest and Giant's Playground: frequently asked questions
How far is the Quiver Tree Forest from Keetmanshoop?
The Quiver Tree Forest lies about 15 kilometres northeast of Keetmanshoop on Gariganus farm, at the junction of the M29 and C17.
How much does the Quiver Tree Forest cost?
Gariganus farm charges an entry fee per person, and visitor reports from 2026 give different amounts. According to one report only cash was accepted.
When do quiver trees flower?
Quiver trees in Namibia flower in June and July with yellow blooms about 30 centimetres tall. A quiver tree flowers for the first time at around 20 years of age.
What is Giant's Playground near Keetmanshoop?
Giant's Playground is a field of stacked dolerite boulders next to the Quiver Tree Forest, formed by block weathering. A circular trail through it takes a little over half an hour.