Grosse Spitzkoppe - Southwest Face

Rising straight out of the Namib desert, Spitzkoppe (and the nearby Pontoks) is a perfect climber's mountain: flawless granite, minimal approaches, beautiful features linked by bold slabs, a strong trad ethic leading to occasionally spicy runouts, and the most spectacular desert scenery imaginable. The mighty southwest face is where most of the serious efforts have been concentrated, with classics like INXS and Nothing in Moderation, as well as recent additions by Cole Robertson.

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Route List

1: 5, 4, 3, 17, M. Seuring, A. Hüfner, V. Modrzewski, 2001
2: West Ridge, 19, A. Hüfner, M. Seuring, 2006
3: Normal Route, 17, de V. Graaf, E. Wongtschofsy, H. Wongtschofsy, 1946
4: Schreiber’s Route, 19, Helm, Lachenmann, Schreiber, 1960
5: Southwest Ridge Gully, 6
6: Phenomenal Namibia, 19, T. Franc, B. Robert, 11/2004
7: MAD For It/Deviation From Reality, 22, A. Hüfner, M. Seuring, D. Le Roux, 2011
8: Herero Arch, 26 A0, H. Gargitter, R. Botte, M. Thaler, P. Trenkwalder, 11/2000
9: Active Side of Infinity, 25 A0, M. Seuring, A. Hüfner, V. Modrzewski, 03/2002
10: Heaven and Bagpipes, 27, V. Satava et al., 09/2007
11: INXS, 24 R, K. Smith, M. Cartwright, M. Seegers, 12/1991
12: The Slab Chip Experience, 25, C. Robertson, B. Tarr, A. Pantelides, 04/2018
13: !Guri |Aib (The White Streak), 25/26, C. Robertson, N. Robertson, 05/2022
14: Southwest Wall Route, 24, E. Haber, C. Ward, J. Holding, 07/1982/M. Hislop, M. Cartwright, 12/1988
15: Eternity, 23 A0, M. Venter, Z. Venter, 09/2025
16: Beyond Suntan Lotion, 24, D. Brogan, V. Modrzewski, 03/2002
17: Nothing in Moderation, 27, M. Seuring, A. Hüfner, S. Broccardo, 09/2001/A. Honnold, A. Hüfner, 2016
18: Watersports, 20, V. Modrzewski, M. Pretorius, A. Hüfner, 2001
19: Dassie Pee, 15, A. Hüfner et al., 2001
20: Blowing up the Postbox, 16, R. Powell, N. Margetts, R. Ford, 07/2017
21: The Northern Impregnator, 19, R. Powell, 08/2022
22: Royale Flush, 21, C. Edelstein, G. Mallory, 07/1983/J. Wamsteker, S. Wallis, 04/2000
23: Compromising Positions, 20, D. Le Roux, M. Seuring, 2006
24: Tourmaline, 20 A2, A. Roff, D. Elliot, 09/1988
25: Short Stories, 20, V. Müller, H. Müller, H. Gantze, 04/2003
26: Pisti Hufnagel, 16, V. Müller, H. Müller, 04/2003
27: Boina Negra, 19, V. Müller, H. Müller, H. Gantze, P. Godoy, 04/2003
28: Dichotoma, 20, E. Haber, S. Kenny, 2000
29: Moringa, 19, E. Haber, H. Gantze, 2000
30: Commiphra, 17, E. Haber, I. Walker, 2000
31: Ragni, 17
32: Opaal, 27, H. Gargitter, R. Botte, M. Thaler, P. Trenkwalder, 11/2000
33: A Cup of Tea and Two Chimneys, 18, A. Hüfner, 2003
34: Fig Arch, 17, A. Hüfner, 2003
35: Swiss Cheese, X
36: Goldfinger, 21, K. Albert, R. Pickl, M. Karrasch, 1999
37: Natural Route, 15
38: Leo, 21, E. Haber, B. de Bruin, 1999
39: Fangs, 22, E. Haber, R. van der Smit, V. Winterfeldt, 1998
40: Claws, 19, R. Graf, J. Morawetz, J. Greiter, 1997
41: Panthera, 21, E. Haber, H. Kolb, 1999

Sources

• “Namibian Rock, A Climbing Guide,” Tony Loures, Blue Mountain Publications, 2025

• “Spitzkoppe and Pontoks, Namibia

• A Climber’s Paradise,” Eckhardt Haber, Blue Mountain Publications, 2010

• “Africa Fusion,” Nic Good, Georgia Court, 2016

• “Spitzkoppe, summary,” Alard Hüfner, AAJ, 2004

• “African Skies,” Stephen Venables, Alpivne Journal, 1999

• Alard Hüfner

• Cole Robertson

• Mark Seuring

• Douard Le Roux

Updates

Jan 17, 2024: First version published.

Feb 19, 2026: Caption update

Apr 24, 2026: Major update following the release of the 2025 guidebook, 10 new routes and a number of minor corrections.