Grootfontein is a necessary stop en-route to Tsumkwe or Rundu, as there is a long distance to be travelled. If travelling from Namutoni in Etosha to Rundu or Tsumkwe, it may be advisable to spend the morning in the park and break the journey with a night in Grootfontein.

Grootfontein is a fully fledged town with:
* 24 hours petrol stations with tow in services
* Vehicle repair garages
* Banking facilities
* Wide range of stores
* Restaurants, cafes and bars


  Branch with Bureau de Change
  211 Okavango Road
  Mon - Fri: 08h30 - 15h30
  Sat:  08h30 - 12h00
  Hours may vary.

Clothing
Travellers should be prepared for cold and high heat. In winter (May to September) the nights may be cold but midday may be warm to hot. In summer the temperature may rise to over 35 C.

Restock and refuel
If travelling to Rundu or Tsumkwe, travellers should use the opportunity to restock the coolbox, refuel, check water, oil and tyres.

* Alte Feste Museum
* The Baobab Tree
* Hoba Meteorite
* Otjikoto Lake and Lake Guinas, en route to Etosha.

The Alte Feste Museum in Grootfontein contains displays on the Dorsland Trekkers and Schutztruppe, an ox wagon of the sort used by the trekkers, a replica of a smithy, colonial utensils, displays on the cultures of Namibia and a mineral collection, amongst others. More than 3,000 items are on display.

The Alte Feste was built in 1896 as a functional fort. The tower was added in 1904.

The Baobab Tree is a national monument. It has a circumference of 18,5 m and some of its branches are 12 m long.

* Grootfontein can be reached in a small 2 X 4 sedan.
* If onward travel is on gravel roads a 4x4 may be required in the rainy season.

* Etosha National Park (Von Lindequist Gate)
* Oshakati
* Otjiwarongo
* Waterberg
* Rundu
* Tsumkwe

Etosha National Park (Von Lindequist Gate)
Etosha (Von Lindequist Gate) to Grootfontein is approx. 156 km
* From the Von Lindequist Gate take the C83 to the B1 turn off (approx. 25 km)
* Turn right into the B1 and follow it to Tsumeb (approx. 74 km)
* From Tsumeb drive south east on the C42 to Grootfontein (approx. 57 km)
The entire route is on tar road.
En-route attraction: Otjikoto Lake and Hoba Meteorite

Oshakati
Oshakati to Grootfontein is approx. 342 km
* From Oshakati take the B1 south east to Tsumeb (approx. 285 km)
* From Tsumeb drive south east on the C42 to Grootfontein (approx. 57 km)
The entire route is on tar road.
En-route attraction: Hoba Meteorite

Otjiwarongo
From Otjiwarongo to Grootfontein is approx. 209 km
* From Otjiwarongo drive north on the B1 to Otavi (approx. 119 km)
* From Otavi drive east on the B8 to Grootfontein ( approx. 90 km)
The entire route is on tar road.
En-route attraction: Hoba Meteorite

Waterberg
Waterberg to Grootfontein is approx. 302 km
* From Waterberg drive south on the D2512 to the C22 turn off (approx. 24 km)
* Turn right into the C22 and continue to the B1 turn off (approx. 41 km)
* Turn right into the B1 and drive to Otjiwarongo (approx. 28 km)
* From Otjiwarongo drive north on the B1 to Otavi (approx. 119 km)
* From Otavi drive east on the B8 to Grootfontein ( approx. 90 km)
TheD2512 is gravel road. The rest of the route is tar road.
En-route attraction: Hoba Meteorite

Rundu
Rundu to Grootfontein is approx. 252 km
* From Rundu drive south west on the B8 to Grootfontein (approx. 252 km)
The entire route is on tar road.

Tsumkwe
From Tsumkwe to Grootfontein is approx. 278 km
* From Tsumkwe drive west on the C44 to the B8 turn off (approx. 225 km)
* Turn right into the B8 and follow it to Grootfontein (approx. 53 km)
The C44 is gravel road and the B8 is tar road.

Grootfontein Airport (FYGF)
South: 19 degrees 36’ 00”
East: 18 degrees 08’ 00"
Elevation: 4,636 feet
Grootfontein Tower/Traffic: 123.3 MHz
Cautions/Warning: Military operations may result in restrictions on airspace from time to time.

Grootfontein Airport Runway Data

Runway	08/26	17/35
Length (meter)	3,560	1,040
Width (meter)	45	30
Surface	tar	tar

Information on Grootfontein Airport provided by Red Sky Ventures

Kempinski Mokuti Lodge
Approx. 156 km north west of Grootfontein & 200 m from Von Lindequist Gate
56 deluxe rooms, 34 safari club rooms, 8 safari Suites & 8 etosha suites, spa, gym, several conference venues, tennis courts, reptile park & petrol station.

Ohange Lodge
Approx. 94 km west of Grootfontein, half way between Otavi & Tsumeb
10 bungalows, 6 self catering rooms and a campsite. Bungalows overlook a waterhole. Night and day game drives as well as morning and sundowner guided walks.

Onguma Bush Camp
Approx. 156 km north west of Grootfontein & 200 m from Von Lindequist Gate
3 twin bungalows, 3 twin rooms, 1 family suite (4 beds), waterhole, mid range. Ideal base for families to explore the Etosha National Park.

Onguma - The Fort
Approx. 156 km north west of Grootfontein & 200 m from Von Lindequist Gate
12 luxury mini suites overlooking Fisher's Pan , 1 luxury fort suite, around waterhole. Located on the 20,000 ha private Onguma Game Reserve.

Onguma Tented Camp
Approx. 156 km north west of Grootfontein & 200 m from Von Lindequist Gate
7 twin ‘Meru style’ luxury tents surrounding waterhole. Guided game drives into Etosha. Game and night dirves on the private Onguma Game Reserve.

Onguma Tree Top Camp
Approx. 156 km north west of Grootfontein & 200 m from Von Lindequist Gate
Intimate camp with 4 chalets at the height of the tree canopies, overlooking a waterhole.


Approx. 82 km north west of Grootfontein en route to the Von Lindequist Gate
14 guest rooms incl. 7 double rooms & 7 family rooms. Ideal for guests with an interest in gemstones and minerals. Offers weddings, conference facilities and wellness & beauty treatments.

Founded by Dorsland Trekkers, the town of Grootfontein gives travellers access to the Hoba Meteorite and Otjikoto Lake and Lake Guinas. It is also the last town and a friendly stop before the long roads to Rundu and Tsumkwe.

The name Grootfontein means ‘big spring’ in Afrikaans.  Prior to that it was known as ‘Otjiwandatjongue’ which means "leopard hill" in Herero.

During summer, the temperature rises to approximately 30 C. In the rainy season, the weather can be extremely humid. In winter temperatures during the midday range between 18 and 25 C, however temperatures can fall below 0 C at night and in the early morning.

Due to problems with the Zulu in the 1830's and the British in the 1870's, on 20 May 1874, Gert Alberts and a group of trekkers set off northwards in search of political independence. The trek became known as the Dorsland Trek or the ‘Thirstland Trek’, a reflection of the hardship that faced the trekkers. A number of treks followed. The name ‘Thirstland Trek' applied to all of them.