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Charles John Anderson and Francis Galton were the first Europeans to discover the Etosha Pan when they passed by the water-hole at Namutoni on 29/05/1851. The Fort was erected as a cattle-disease control post after the outbreak of the rinderpest in 1897 as part of a cordon drawn by the German colonial authority. It also can be regarded as northern border of the colonial settlements and a control post for the supervision of trade with the Ovambo. The garrison consisted of an officer, a medical orderly and two troopers housed in reed huts. First Lieutenant Richard Volkmann from Outjo decided to set up a military post there. To improve the conditions, Dr. Paul Jodtka, Chief Medical Officer erected the first fort in 1903.
During the time of service of First Lieutenant Count Wilhelm von Saurma-Jeltsch, from 1905 on, the actual fort was built. In 1906, the surrounding country was declared as a district. During the uprising of the Hereros they invited the Ovambo to join in the fight against the Germans but they didn’t respond as the Ovambo were not under German administration. The kings remained independent and maintained a good diplomatic relation with the Germans. Chief Nehale Mpingana was resistant to colonialism and sent one of his captains with 500 men to fight on 28/01/1904. The Germans received instructions from Grootfontein so were ready to defend themselves. Firing continued from both sides until the Ovambo retreated into the bushes to the northern side. The Germans took advantage of the withdrawal and left the tower towards the south. The Ovambos noticed a deserted station and set the fort alight burning it to the ground. Difficulties were experienced in the recreation as the soldiers and locals had to be trained in air-dried brick-making. After the termination of the uprisings the fort lost its military value. The colonial troops handed Namutoni over to the police on 01/09/1910. The garrison strengthened with the outbreak of ww1 but on 14/03/1911 the district administration was abandoned. The military function ended in 1912 for economic reasons, thereafter becoming a police station, occupied by South African troops in 1915. In 1951 funds became available to rebuild the fort and 1957 it opened its gates to tourists. Officially opened and handed over to the department of nature conservation and tourism on 28/06/1958. Declared as National Monument on 15.02.1950 by the Historical Monuments Commission for South West Africa (HMC).
An almost square structure with a tower in every corner, one major tower. Behind the entrance wall, two huge blocks. Built with air-dried bricks, topped by a corrugated-iron roof. White plaster. The German inscription reads: "On 28. January 1904, 500 Ovambo attacked the station. NAMUTONI. Seven brave German men vicariously repulsed the attack. In honourable memory: [their names]." A bronze plaque reads: "Fort Namutoni has been built along the old German design on the instructions of the Historical Monuments Commission. Before WWI the Fort served to protect the Northern settled areas of South West Africa." www.nhc-nam.org/site_info.php?id=11&site=Fort%20Namutoni
