Overview

Ranked as the best beach resort town in Namibia, Swakopmund is considered by most to be the country’s only real holiday resort. Located 219 miles west of the capital city of Windhoek, this popular old German town spreads from the mouth of the Swakopmund River out into the surrounding desert plain. It has become known as Namibia’s adventure capital, offering everything from sandboarding and skydiving to surviving on Atlantic swells.

Unlike much of Namibia, Swakopmund is used to regular visitors, and offers several choices in terms of accommodations, restaurants, and things to do. The town has also established a name for itself as the center for adventure travel, and attracting adventurous travelers seeking adrenaline trips. As you explore the town you'll discover a unique blend of old buildings, beautiful architecture, cozy coffee shops, and well-kept gardens that make it a pleasant oasis to spend a few days.

Things to See and Do

Explore the town on foot. The town is small and has everything to enjoy within easy walking - long sandy beaches, small squares, beautiful architecture, and great vistas from the pier. The architectural highlights are the Prinzessin Rupprecht Heim building, the Old Prison, the State House, Woermannhaus, the Lighthouse, Hohenzollern Building, and more. Most of these remarkable buildings were built at the beginning of the 20th century.

Explore the National Marine Aquarium. Here you can learn about the marine life of the region. There are only local species that live in the Atlantic’s cold Benguela Current. Here you can see sharks, rays, lobsters, and different kinds of fish. The aquarium is quite small so you’ll only need about an hour or two to visit it. It’s an interesting place to visit with children.

Learn about the history at the Swakopmund Museum. Established in 1951, today it’s the biggest private museum in Namibia. The museum shares everything about the region from indigenous plants and animals to the traditional living styles of local tribes and old motorized vehicles.

Enjoy the beautiful beaches of Swakopmund. Regardless of the time of year, the water temperature never exceeds 60°F thanks to the Benguela current sweeping in from the Antarctic. This makes a quick dip in the ocean the perfect antidote to the high temperatures of the Namibian summer. Most people prefer to swim in the Mole area, where things are a little warmer and there are lifeguards on duty. Surfers love to ride the waves at Nordstrand near Vineta Point. Vineta Point is a hotspot for beach lovers with a large waterfront development offering shops and restaurants onsite. Walvis Bay offers a more scenic sandy beach to enjoy a scenic walk. There are plenty of boat trips offered from the harbor of Walvis Bay around the lagoon and out to Pelican Point and Bird Island. Kayaking is another popular way to enjoy the Bay.

All the beaches at Swakopmund are free to access and enjoy. However, the Atlantic Ocean is unpredictable with strong currents, so it’s best to stick to beaches where there are lifeguards on duty.

Take an adventure on the Sand Dunes and Desert. In Swakopmund, it’s hard to tell where the beaches end and the desert starts. Some of the beaches butt right up against the stunning dunes, some towering almost 1,000 ft above the sand and stretching as much as 980 ft long.

They’re among the largest in the world, second only to those of the Badain Jaran Desert in China. The Namib Desert is one of Namibia’s most outstanding features. Known also as the Namib Sand Sea, the desert’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest desert in the world, with a history spanning 55 million years.

There are so many things to discover among these ancient sands where you can take in the beauty of this fascinating ecosystem. Guided tours from Swakopmund are and excellent way to discover the unique fauna and flora along with a host of desert-adapted living creatures. Sunsets are the best time for visiting the dunes.

If you’re searching for a more adventurous way to see the area, you can do just about anything to that gets your heart pumping. Skydiving or a hot air balloon ride are a great way to admire the area from a birds eye view. Dune boarding and quad biking are other ways to get a thrill on the sands. And if you prefer a slower pace, explore the sands with a horse or camel ride. Kitesurfing, surfing and deep sea fishing are among the most popular ways to enjoy some adventure on the water. A sunset cruise or a dolphin and whale watching boat tour is another great way to get out on the water.

The Jetty

The Swakopmund jetty is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and stands beautifully against a wild Atlantic sea. In its early years it was used as a mooring for ships but fell into disuse after the nearby Walvis Bay harbor was built. Over the years it has been refurbished and today it’s an excellent hangout for anglers and those looking for some fresh sea air. The jetty also hosts a great seafood restaurant and bar.