Vingerklip stands in the valley of the Ugab, roughly halfway between Outjo and Khorixas. The rock is about 35 metres high with a circumference of 44 metres at its base, and its tip is 929 metres above sea level. In December 1988 the Mukurob, the Finger of God in the south of the country, collapsed. Since then Vingerklip has been considered Namibia's best-known rock.
- height of the rock
- about 35 m
- circumference at the base
- 44 m
- above sea level at the tip
- 929 m
- gravel from the C39
- about 20 km
The pinnacle is a remnant. Some 20 to 10 million years ago a forerunner of the Ugab laid down beds of coarse gravel and fine sand, which lime cemented into conglomerate as hard as concrete. Around two million years ago the river cut down again and cleared most of it away. What remained are the Ugab Terraces, table mountains up to 160 metres above today's valley, and a few free-standing rocks like this one.
Vingerklip stands right next to Vingerklip Lodge. A signposted trail leads from there to the rock, and guests take just under an hour there and back. Climbing the rock is not allowed. Above the lodge, on one of the terraces, is the Eagle's Nest restaurant, reached by a steep path and several flights of metal stairs.
The American mountaineer Tom Choate is said to have been the first on top, in 1970, and his bolts are still in the rock. Three years later Udo Kleyenstuber free-climbed the east face. Today you look at it from below or from above.
Marked trails of about two hours lead around the terraces, and you can walk them alone or with a guide from the lodge. The Eagle's Nest has only a few seats, with a barbecue in the evening.
Getting there on the D2743
From Outjo you drive almost 80 kilometres on the tarred C39 towards Khorixas, then turn left at the "Vingerklip" sign onto the D2743. About 20 kilometres of gravel follow to the lodge, a little over 100 kilometres in all. From Khorixas you drive 13 kilometres east on the C39 and then almost 50 kilometres along the D2743.
The state of the D2743 is disputed. In November 2025 the lodges along it called it impassable for ordinary vehicles, saying whole sections had washed away after the rainy season. The Roads Authority replied that the washaways had been repaired and the road was graded regularly, but that there was no money for re-gravelling. Ask at your lodge before you set off, as of October 2026.
- Time needed
- just under an hour for the walk to the rock, one night if you want the evening on the plateau
- Cost
- no National Heritage Council fee; check with the lodge beforehand whether it charges day visitors (as of October 2026)
- When
- late afternoon, when the light falls low across the terraces
Our tipBook your table at the Eagle's Nest as soon as you check in, as the restaurant has only a few seats. And ask about the D2743 before you set off.
Places to stay in Outjo
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Ugab Terrace Lodge
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €223per night on 23 November 2026
Check prices on trivago
Sasa Safari Camp & Tours
Ugab Valley
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €66per night on 23 November 2026
Check prices on trivago
Ijaba Lodge at Buschfeld Park
2km on the C38, turn off at the sign
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €97per night on 23 November 2026
Check prices on trivagoVingerklip: frequently asked questions
How high is Vingerklip?
Vingerklip in the Ugab valley is about 35 metres high, with a circumference of 44 metres at its base. Its tip is 929 metres above sea level.
Can you climb Vingerklip?
Climbing Vingerklip is not allowed. You can see the rock from the signposted trail at Vingerklip Lodge or from above, on the plateau with the Eagle's Nest restaurant.
How do you get to Vingerklip?
To reach Vingerklip from Outjo, drive almost 80 kilometres on the tarred C39 and then about 20 kilometres on the D2743 gravel road. Its condition was disputed in November 2025, so ask at your lodge before you go.
How did Vingerklip form?
Vingerklip is the remnant of an old Ugab river terrace of gravel and sand cemented by lime into hard conglomerate. When the river cut down again, it carried away the rock around it and left the pinnacle standing.