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Twyfelfontein captured in new Gondwana book

David Levin of Twyfelfontein by Michiel Levin and Mannie Goldbeck tells the story of despair as a single unreliable spring in an otherwise dry mountainous area, becomes the only lifeline for a settler farmer, his family and his livestock.

David Levin of Twyfelfontein by Michiel Levin and Mannie Goldbeck tells the story of despair as a single unreliable spring in an otherwise dry mountainous area, becomes the only lifeline for a settler farmer, his family and his livestock.

From ancient rock engravings to the disparities of farming in the desert, a new book published by Gondwana Collection, tells the story of Twyfelfontein, today the site of an upmarket lodge by the same name close by, but in earlier history, a desolate place where a farmer tried to make a living.
The new book goes by the hefty name, David Levin of Twyfelfontein – The Unknown Story. It brings to light new information on the very first years when Levin thought he could farm deeper in the desert than any other farm.

The Twyfelfontein engravings have received worldwide acclaim over the years, yet little was known about where the name Twyfelfontein originated or about the origin of the ruins at the site. This was until keen historian, Mannfred Goldbeck, met up with Michiel Levin and learnt the history of the farm, the Levin family and how David Levin came to name the farm, Twyfelfontein – Doubtful Spring.
Revealing the unknown story, Michiel Levin records the history of the Levin family at Twyfelfontein, pays his respects to his parents and brings light to the early life of the Afrikaner settlers who battled to endure on this arid land. By recounting this fascinating tale of the Twyfelfontein farm, he links the tenuous threads from the past to create the rich tapestry of Namibian history. The book is published in German, Afrikaans and English. It is available at the Gondwana Collection Office, 42 Nelson Mandela Avenue, Klein Windhoek and in book shops.

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