The Desert Horse Site

Bird's Eye View

In the stark beauty of the Namib Desert near Aus, the Desert Horse geoglyph celebrates the legendary feral horses that have roamed this harsh landscape for over a century. Their silhouette stands as a testament to resilience.

Fun Facts & Hidden Secrets

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140 m wide

A massive geoglyph depicting the iconic Namib Desert horse.

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Walk the artwork

Approximately 40 minutes from end to end.

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Built in 2018

Created to celebrate the wild horses of the Namib.

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Descendants of War Horses

The Namib Desert Horses are believed to descend primarily from German stud horses and military horses that escaped or were abandoned during World War I, later adapting to life in one of the world's harshest environments.

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Created for Aus

Supporting conservation and tourism in a remote desert community.

Trace the Desert Horse

Follow the outline with your finger to discover 7 facts about the Desert Horse

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Tap the numbered points or trace the path with your finger to discover facts about the Desert Horse and desert horse area

About the Desert Horse

The Namib Desert Horses are a unique feral population that has survived in one of the world's harshest environments since the early 1900s. Believed to descend primarily from German stud horses and military horses that escaped or were abandoned during World War I, they have adapted remarkably to the arid Namib Desert. Today they roam freely near Aus, surviving on sparse vegetation and travelling long distances between grazing areas and water. As one of only a few free-roaming desert horse populations in the world, they have become an enduring symbol of resilience, adaptation and the remarkable natural heritage of southern Namibia.