Duwisib Castle — The Story of Hans von Wolf

The human story behind Duwisib Castle is as dramatic as the building itself. In August 1914, with WWI just declared, Captain von Wolf and his American wife were travelling to Europe by ship. Jayta used her US citizenship to board a Dutch neutral vessel. Hans had to disguise himself as a woman to avoid capture. He rejoined the German army on arrival in Europe and was killed at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 — just two weeks after signing up. His wife, heartbroken, never returned to Namibia. The castle stood empty. Now a National Monument and museum, its 22 rooms contain original 18th and 19th-century furniture, armour, paintings and a massive German oak cabinet.