Otjikoto Lake

Otjikoto Lake is a karst sinkhole lake in the Oshikoto Region of northern Namibia, near the town of Tsumeb. It is notable as one of the country’s few permanent natural lakes.

A compact site with steep limestone walls and clear water, the site is visited for its unusual geology and for viewing platforms at the rim that look down into the sinkhole. Small boat access and dives have been made into the lake; the setting is compact rather than a large recreational lake.

The lake formed by the collapse of a limestone cave system that then filled with groundwater; its basin is the result of karst processes in the local bedrock. During the early 20th century, items including weapons and equipment were reportedly thrown into the lake during military actions, and some wreckage has been recovered by divers.

Otjikoto sits in the north of Namibia within the Oshikoto Region, a short drive from the mining town of Tsumeb and accessible from regional roads. The landscape around it is semi-arid with exposed limestone and scrub vegetation.

• Rarity: One of only two permanent natural sinkhole lakes in Namibia, the other being Lake Guinas.
• WWI association: Has been associated with objects and equipment thrown into the water during World War I; wreckage has been recovered during dives and investigations.