Petrified forest, Khorixas

The Petrified Forest near Khorixas is a protected geological site in Namibia's dry Kunene Region filled with ancient mineralized tree trunks scattered across the landscape. The site displays remnants from a time when massive ancient waterways transformed trees into stone.

This site preserves tree remains from the Permian period roughly 280 million years ago, when ancient floods swept these plants from their original locations. The mineralization process occurred as the trunks lay buried beneath sediment over millions of years.

The Damara people, who have resided in this region for generations, incorporate the petrified forest into their traditional narratives and knowledge systems.

The site is reached via the C39 road west of Khorixas and features marked trails with information signs throughout. Visitors should bring sun protection and plenty of water since the grounds are completely open and exposed to the elements.

Two exceptionally large trunks remain visible at their original length, revealing the scale of these prehistoric trees. Hundreds of broken fragments scattered across the grounds document the extent of the ancient event that buried them.