The small Namibian town of Aroab lies some 160 kilometres to the east of Keetmanshoop and is 40 kilometres from the South African border post at Rietfontein. The name of the town is derived from two Nama words – “aub” which means a dry riverbed, and “aroe” which is the Nama word for the haakdoringbosse or thorn bushes that are found in the riverbed. The river was thus called Aroe Aub, hence Aroab. Aroab was first settled in the early 1900s but white farmers evacuated their farms in 1905 fleeing to Rietfontein to avoid an uprising. 1910 saw the first shop opening and the first magistrate arrived in 1913. During the first World War General Berrange besieged Aroab from Rietfontein, but found no German troops there as they had all fallen back to Keetmanshoop in the west. If you want to get away from it all and enjoy the freedom of wide open spaces, Aroab is the place to be.