Nestled between the vast Namib Desert and the wild Atlantic Ocean, Swakopmund offers an overload of epic activities and cultural experiences. From sandboarding down towering dunes to exploring German colonial architecture, there’s something for every Historian in this vibrant seaside town.
Swakopmund is Namibia's premier holiday resort town! The main beach area is called the 'Mole' and is the result of a largely unsuccessful attempt to construct the artificial harbour (as South Africa owned the only natural harbour in the area at Walvis Bay). The towns most iconic symbol is the Swakopmund jetty, initially used as mooring for ships it later became a popular are for anglers and walkers, it has fallen into disrepair on numerous occasions and has been subject to several attempts to rescue it from complete dereliction. Recently large scale work has been completed on the jetty which now proudly boasts a small restaurant and bar area.
The Cape Cross Seal Colony is worth a visit as it offers a taste of the Skeleton Coast and the seals are worth a visit. The Welwitschia drive is an interesting way to spend a few hours and introduces you to some of the fauna and flora of the Namib Desert. Bird lovers can pay a visit to the Swakopmund Salt Works or the Walvis Bay Lagoon, which in season is frequented by thousands of flamingos. The Skeleton Coast in Namibia gets its striking name from the shipwrecks and the remains of whale and seal bones that litter the shoreline, from the beaches north of Swakopmund all the way to the Angolan border. The coast has long been a graveyard for shipwrecked sailors whose vessels fell victim to the Atlantic's treacherous currents, shifting sandbanks and thick fog. The dangers of this deadly coastline also earned it the moniker “The Land God Made in Anger” by indigenous San people.
Other attractions in Swakopmund include a Swakopmund Museum, the National Marine Aquarium, a crystal gallery and spectacular sand dunes. Langstrand (also known as Long Beach) is a small, coastal holiday resort in Namibia, situated along the Atlantic Ocean on the Skeleton Coast. It is located in the Erongo Region, south of the Swakop River and roughly halfway between the town of Swakopmund to the north and the port city of Walvis Bay to the south Outside of the city, the Rossmund Desert Golf Course (LINK IN FURTHER READING) is one of only 5 all-grass desert golf courses in the world. The city is known for skydiving and other extreme sports. Nearby lies a camel Farm and theMartin Luther steam locomotive, dating from 1896 and abandoned in the desert.