Omaruru travel guide

Background

The area around the town has been home both to humans and game for thousands of years, evident from the numerous sites of Bushman art found here. The first Europeans reached the area in 1851, but it was only after the missionary, Gottlieb Viehe, arrived in 1870 that the town was ‘officially’ founded. The name is derived from the Herero ‘omaere omaruru’, meaning ‘bitter curd’, which is apparently how milk tasted after cattle had grazed on one particular local bush. In 1858, Charles Andersson, attracted by the area’s plentiful game, established a hunting camp on the banks of the Omaruru River. In 1870, the hunter Axel Eriksson and brewer Anders Ohissen formed a partnership to exploit the game and by 1880 they had succeeded in wiping out all the elephant, rhino, lion and giraffe that had once lived in the area. Throughout the 1880s, Omaruru was a focal point for Herero-Nama battles and, as part of the consolidation of German rule in Namibia, a garrison was stationed here at the end of 1894. The town started to grow and by the end of 1896 Omaruru had the largest population of European settlers in Namibia. However, the great rinderpest epidemic of 1897 wiped out the last remaining game in the area as well as taking a heavy toll on the settlers’ cattle; many were forced to leave the area. But the military garrison continued to grow and a new barracks and sick bay were completed by 1901. In 1904 the Herero rose up against the German occupiers and the town was besieged. At the time the military commander, Captain Franke, was away in the south helping to put down the Bondelswart uprising. Nevertheless, he marched 900 km in 20 days and broke the siege by leading a cavalry charge, thereby defeating the Herero.

Train

For trains to Swakopmund, Tsumeb via Otjiwarongo, and Windhoek via Okahandja, see timetable, page .

Banks

First National Bank and Standard Bank, on corner of Bank St and W Zeraua St, both with ATM.

Medical services

State Hospital, T064-570037, follow Hospital St south over the river.

Post office

Corner of Church St and W Zeraua St.