The Kristall Galerie

No visit to Swapkomund is complete without a tour of the Kristall Galerie. The Galerie’s main objective is commercial, however it does a wonderful job of educating while peddling its wares. It is home to the world’s largest crystal cluster on display. The cluster was unearthed some years ago and is thought to be about 520 million years old. It is quite huge and really brings home the idea of the type of monumental forces at work below the surface of our earth. There is a reproduction tunnel that the kids loved going through with all sorts of crystals on display in a simulation of how they looked when in nature. There are displays with lengthy literature on each type of crystal, semi- or precious stone and metal found in Namibia (and there are quite a few). I would have liked to read each one at length, but my kids were trying to climb on and into the mammoth size geodes strategically placed all around the gallery. Of course there are a number of gift shops to be visited within as well. One of the shops is obviously high-end and has a fascinating array of jewelry fashioned out of these stones—some of which are absolutely exquisite and quite unique. The prices weren’t readily displayed. They are fashioned on the premises apparently and can be custom designed to clients’ specifications. Augustus couldn’t resist the temptation and forked over the cash for a geode and an amethyst.