Namibia is filled with exciting places to see and interesting locations of both historical and natural importance. When on a Namibia tour, one of the attractions you don’t want to miss is the Hoba Meteorite.

Not far from Grootfontein in Namibia, in the Otjozondjupa Region, you will find the farm Hoba.  This is not just any farm, this is home to the Hoba Meteorite.  The Hoba Meteorite lies where it fell, with its tremendous weight keeping it firmly in place. 

This 60 ton meteorite is the largest known meteorite in the world, outweighing the 37 ton meteorite that can be found at Campo Del Cielo in Argentina.  On top of this, it is also the largest naturally occurring piece of iron on the Earth’s surface.  The name Hoba comes from the Khoekhoegowab word that simply means “Gift”.

The rock was first discovered by a Mr Brits. The original report by Mr Brits of how he discovered the meteorite can still be viewed in the museum in Grootfontein, Namibia.  It reads as follows:

“DECLARATION BY MR JACOBUS HERMANUS BRITS I was born on 23 April 1879 and am at present working in Outjo. From 1920, or perhaps a little earlier, I was living on the farm Hoba. During the winter some two years later I was out hunting. I saw this strange rock, sat on it and examined it. Only the upper surface was visible. While I was sitting on the rock it struck me that this rock was black whereas everything around it was limestone. I took my knife, scraped it and discovered that it was shiny. I then went and fetched a chisel, cut off a piece and took it to the S.W.A. Company in Grootfontein. The Manager took it, examined it, and identified it as a meteorite.   Mrs Brits then partially excavated the meteorite and the Manager came to have another look at it. It is estimated [to weigh] 80 tons. (Signed) J.H.BRITS OUTJO, 2/10/1954.”