Swakopmund, Namibia's second biggest town and traditional “summer capital”, is one of the most surreal places in this surreal country. You approach the town through the endless expanses of the Namib Desert, one of the world's largest wilderness areas. Then, through the mists (it is almost always misty in the morning and late afternoon) Bavarian spires and elaborate Germanic architecture rise through the fog banks. The boom of the surf on the notorious Skeleton Coast is an ever-present reminder of the icy Atlantic Ocean beyond.

The town is an eclectic mixture of Bohemian and Bavarian, home to an intriguing mix of artists, hippies, strait-laced descendants of German settlers, stately Herero women in Victorian dress, and hard-bitten miners, game rangers, safari operators and fishermen. Swakopmund exudes romance and history, a rich cultural melting pot of old and new.

This tourist mecca has no high season as, with its temperate climate, unique scenery and a never-ending list of things to see and do, there is a constant influx of tourists. Air conditioned coachloads of well-heeled travellers, easy-going backpackers and parties of 4x4 enthusiasts mingle in the streets on a daily basis.

If you are tired of traveling and wish to indulge in some shopping, there are numerous excellent boutiques, jewellery shops, leather works, gem stones, art galleries and a huge array of crafts on sale from the local craft sellers.

The town's night time entertainment ranges from sophisticated spins on the casino's roulette wheels, through fun filled parties at the many pubs and restaurants, to an wide range of drama, music and cultural events. Dine out on wonderful seafood, great steaks or indulge in a good cup of coffee and a slice of the famous Black Forest cake at one of our many popular confectioners.
 
 

Once you've got over the shock of being in a little corner of old Bavaria wedged between one of the world's harshest deserts and even harsher coastlines, the bewitching desert beckons. Just outside town is the extraordinary Moon Landscape, a seemingly never-ending series of bizarre hills that look like pictures taken of Mars, or the Sea of Tranquillity. It is best visited at sunrise or sunset.

Welwitschia MirabilisA bit further afield, in the bed of the Khan River, is the oasis of Goanikontes, a lush splash of water and vegetation in the barren Namib. For botanists, there is the lure of the fields of what have been called “living fossils”, the giant Welwitschia mirabilis. These extraordinary trees never grow more than two metres above the ground, but the bigger specimens have underground stems which are up to four metres wide. The tree has just two leaves, which droop in opposite directions. If one of the leaves dies, the plant dies. The oldest living specimen has been dated at 2 000 years old, while the average age of the youngsters is between 500 and 600 years old.

Swakopmund LighthouseSights in and around Swakopmund:

Driving along the stunning dune-lined coastline is particularly attractive, whether you go south to Walvis Bay (30 km) or to the National West Coast Recreation Area in the north. The road (slippery in the fog) hugs the coast as far as the Ugab rivermouth and further to the fishermen's resort of Henties Bay (72 km) and Cape Cross(breeding colony of up to 100 000 Cape fur seals – 120 km, permit required.) North of the Ugab one enters the Skeleton Coast National Park , for which a permit is also required.

Interesting is also the Welwitchia Drive that leads to the Moon Landscape at the Swakop Rivier and into the northern part of the Namib Naukluft Park.

What to do in Swakopmund:

sandboardingJust outside Swakopmund, a section of towering barcan dunes have been set aside for recreational purposes – sand boarding and skiing, quadbiking, camel rides and offroad driving. Swakopmund also offers a host of other attractions, including excursions by boat to see dolphins and seals, shorebased angling (some of the best in Africa), skin diving, surfing or just simply lazing on the beach. And, of course, the town is surrounded by the Namib Naukluft Park, one of the most bewitching desert wilderness areas in Africa, for one day trips or longer safaris for the ultimate desert camping experience

Town tours, fishing trips, tours to Namib Naukluft park (Welwitschia Mirabilis, Moon landscape), museum, snake park, sandboarding, parasailing and hot air ballooning.


Climate:

The climate is temperate, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 25°C. Rainfall less than 15 mm per annum.

The cold Benguela Current generates moisture for the area in the form of sea mist, which provides a cool respite from the heat of the interior. In the winter months the town experiences occasional dry hot spells caused by easterly winds blowing from the interior creating desert sand storms.

Car hire / transport:

Most car hire companies have offices in Swakopmund for hire of saloon cars as well as 4x4 vehicles.

Swakopmund has its own fully functional airfield with refuelling facilities.
There is a rail link between Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, which includes the route of our luxury Desert Express.

Swakop beyon the dunebelt