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Voykit pocket guide · Namibia
Maltahöhe
Skip as a destination; use only as a fuel-and-snack stop on the C19/C14 route between Mariental and Sossusvlei or Walvis Bay. No need to stay overnight.
Maltahöhe is a small village of about 3,500 people in the Hardap region, named after the wife of a German colonial officer. It has a historic hotel, a campsite and a general dealer, but no major sights. Its value is purely logistical: a fuel stop and a place to stretch your legs on the long gravel drives of central Namibia.
- Country
- Namibia
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (dry season, roads in best condition)
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (rain can make gravel roads muddy and impassable)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NAD
- Money
- Currency is the Namibian dollar (NAD, N$), pegged 1:1 to the South African rand; rand is accepted in Namibia, but Namibian dollars are not accepted in South Africa.
- Daily spend
- Budget N$80–200 (campsite only) · Mid N$300–600 (hotel room) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- MTC has the widest coverage; TN Mobile is the alternative. Buy at the airport or town shops with a passport (registration required).
- Emergency
- Ambulance and rescue (private, E-Med Rescue 24) +264 81 924
- Plugs
- Types M, D · 220–230 V · 50 Hz · Same large round-pin sockets as South Africa; bring an adapter and a car charger.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%.; Fuel attendant: N$5–10.; Car guard: N$5–10.; Lodge guide: N$100–200 per guest per day.; Lodge staff: N$50–100 per guest per day in the communal box.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Windhoek and main towns (Windhoek recycles water to drinking standard). Carry plenty in the car.
- Toilets
- Clean at fuel stations, lodges and park camps; few facilities between towns.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Petrol (per litre) | N$22–25 |
| Snack at general dealer | N$20–50 |
| Beer at hotel bar | N$20–35 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- WDH · Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek
- Main international gateway; about 5 h by tar and gravel road to Maltahöhe via Rehoboth and Mariental — check road conditions.
- ERS · Eros Airport, Windhoek
- Domestic and charter flights; about 4.5–5 h by road to Maltahöhe — check.
Typical fares
- Mariental → Maltahöhe (C19, 100 km)
- about 1 h 15 min by car
- Sossusvlei → Maltahöhe (C19/C27, 150 km)
- about 2.5 h by car
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable. You need your own vehicle to reach the campsite or continue your journey.
See and do
Known for
- Fuel stop on the C19/C14 route
- Historic Maltahöhe Hotel (oldest continuously operating hotel in Namibia)
- Old Bridge campsite on the Hudup River
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sossusvlei | Drive north on the C19 then C27, about 2 h 30 min | About 2.5 h |
| Mariental | Drive east on the C19, about 1 h 15 min | About 1.25 h |
| Duwisib Castle | Drive north on the C19 then D826, about 45 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Maltahöhe village
- Only two options: the historic hotel (basic rooms, bar) and the Old Bridge campsite 2 km (1.2 mi) outside. Both are very basic.Only two options: the historic hotel (basic rooms, bar) and the Old Bridge campsite 1.2 mi (2 km) outside. Both are very basic.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallohah-loh |
| Thank you | Dankiedahn-kee |
| How much? | Hoeveel?hoo-feel |
| Where is the petrol station? | Waar is die petrolstasie?vahr is dee peh-trol-stah-see |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Greet and ask 'how are you' before any question; avoid: Straight to business
- Village visits: Go with a guide and ask permission; avoid: Photographing without asking
- Roads: Wave at passing drivers on quiet gravel; stop for anyone in trouble; avoid: Speeding through villages
- Lodges: Follow staff instructions about walking at night; avoid: Leaving your room after dark in unfenced lodges without an escort
- Language: English or a few words of Afrikaans or Oshiwambo; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks German
Scams and watch-outs
- Gravel roads can become slippery after rain; check conditions before driving.
- The campsite has no power sockets; bring your own water for drinking and cooking.
- Fuel station hours may be limited; fill up in Mariental or Helmeringhausen if possible.
Maltahöhe is a quiet village with low crime. The main risks are driving on gravel roads (check tyre pressure, avoid night driving) and the remote location (carry extra water, food and a spare tyre).
One and two days
No timed day plan for Maltahöhe yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fuel stop on the C19/C14 route
- Historic Maltahöhe Hotel (oldest continuously operating hotel in Namibia)
- Old Bridge campsite on the Hudup River
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Maltahöhe, revision 5234617 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5234617
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Maltahöhe
Na hierdie adres, asseblief
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Ambulance and rescue (private, E-Med Rescue 24)+264 81 924
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/maltahohe). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.