Fort Namutoni with its white-washed walls and four towers is a landmark at the Namutoni rest camp in the east of the Etosha National Park. It does not, however, in any way resemble the original fort which was completed at the end of 1903. The first fort, which measured 10 m by 24 m, was razed to the ground the following year.
This is how events unfolded on the morning of 21 January 1904, when five Aandonga scouts arrived at the fort. On their arrival, they announced that Shivute shaNdjongolo, the Chief Councillor of the ruler of eastern Ondonga , Nehale lyaMpingana, was on a hunting expedition. The scouts were joined a few hours later by Shivute shaNdjongolo and a group of between 350 to 400 warriors, some armed with rifles and others with traditional weapons. They were, still later, joined by another group of between 100 and 150 unarmed warriors.
Shivute shaNdjongolo informed the officer in charge of Namutoni, Sergeant Fritz Grossmann, that they wanted to exchange an ox for a bag of rice. Grossman, however, suspected that it was a ruse to lure him out of the fort and declined the request.
In addition to Grossmann, the fort was manned by a medical orderly medical, Bruno Lassmann, and Privates Richard Lemke and Albert Lier (the latter was suffering from malaria). Three farmers, who had sought refuge there with their cattle and horses after hearing that the Ovaherero had taken up arms against the German colonial administration, were also at the fort.
The warriors stormed the fort at around mid-morning. One group broke into the storeroom, while the unarmed warriors drove off the cattle and horses which the farmers had brought with them. The defenders took up position in the towers and the battle continued for about four hours until the Aandonga soldiers retreated out of the firing range.
With the ammunition supply of the defenders down to no more than 150 rounds and fearing another attack, they abandoned the fort under cover of darkness. On discovering the following day that the fort had been deserted, the Aandonga ransacked the building and razed it to the ground.
Sixty-eight Aandonga warriors died during the battle, while 40 were wounded but returned safely home. Forty, however, went missing and presumably died somewhere else.
Nehale lyaMpingana was accorded the official status of a National Hero after independence and there is a symbolic grave in his honour at the Heroes’; Acre in Windhoek. The waterhole at Namutoni and Etosha’s northern gate has also been named in his honour.
The King Nehale Warriors’ Memorial and Memorial Monument close to Namutoni was unveiled on 28 January 2022 to commemorate the Battle of Onamutuni (Namutoni). The inscription at the base of the monument reads: ““We made war against the German troops and we won. We have driven them away and we captured their spoils of war. God was on our side,” The names of 14 senior traditional councillors who fought in the attack are inscribed on a black marble tablet.
Construction of a new fort started in February 1905 and was completed the following year. Its purpose was to control the movement of people and to prevent the smuggling of arms, ammunition and alcohol into Owambo. It was later also used to control the movement of migrant contract labourers entering and leaving the so-called Police Zone.
The fort fell into disrepair gradually and after lightening destroyed one of its towers in February 1938 there were plans to demolish it. It was, however, declared a national monument on 15 February 1951. Funds were made available for its reconstruction and the fort was opened to tourists in 1957. The fort has since been renovated in 1983 and 2007, but is once again in urgent need of renovation.
The Gondwana Collection’s Etosha King Nehale lodge is situated a mere 1 km from the King Nehale Gate and a convenient base to explore the Etosha National Park. The rooms of this upmarket lodge radiate from the central area, which accommodates the reception, curio shop, boma, dining area and bar, like a cow’s horn to resemble the head of Nguni cattle.