June 20, 2019
Ports of the World: Port Nolloth, South Africa
In my series of the Ports of the World, it is time for a small, yet very special port. Port Nolloth is located on the west coast of South Africa, close to the border of Namibia.
To enter the port, you would traditionally have to navigate by the sound of the bells. Different currents from the Atlantic and the Southern Ocean meet at this point to create frequent mist. Although the mist quickly dissipates inland as it meets the Kalahari Desert, it makes it difficult to navigate into the port.
Port Nolloth was originally developed as a fishing port and for shipping iron ore mined inland. It was also a transhipment port for copper from the nearby copper mines.
In the early 1900s it became a boom town, as diamonds were discovered in the region, earning it a legendary reputation as a port where one could arrive poor but leave exceptionally wealthy.
Diamonds can still be found in Port Nolloth, but these days you must dive for them. Divers go out from Port Nolloth to find diamonds that have been washed out to sea by the Orange River. It is also a popular gateway for adventure travellers looking to explore the arid south west of South Africa and Namibia just to the north.
Port Nolloth is truly a very special port in the south of the great African continent.
