The abbey was established as a mission on 3 August 1922, after the Ottilien Congregation received permission to do missionary work in the Apostolic Vicariate of Natal.

The mission was headed by apostolic vicar Thomas Spreiter, who had been working in German East Africa since 1900.

[2] With the help of the Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, a high school was built, where Spreiter taught religion.

Since 29 June 1998, the abbey's monks also oversee the former mission house of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the St. Boniface House Waldfrieden, 50 km north-west of Windhoek,[1] where they work with the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing.

[6] A training school for Inkamana's young monks was founded in 1992 in Howick, and moved in 1998 to nearby Cedara.