"A german spot in an african desert" Top 5 Page for this destination Swakopmund by SirRichard

Swakopmund Travel Guide: 111 reviews and 514 photos

A coastal oasis

As you can see in this pic, Swakopmund is an island between the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean.
There's not much around, you arrive to Swakopmund after several hours of desert crossing through the Namib Naukluft Desert, seeing nothing but dunes. The town itself is not Las Vegas, but is the only civilised place in miles.

To the north and to the south all you can find is endless dunes along the coast called "Skeleton Coast"...

Sounds inviting, eh? Well, believe it or not, Swakopmund is the main summer and beaches spot in this part of Africa. In January-March (summer in the south hemisphere) is really crowded here, but at the time we went (august) you could hardly see a soul around...

Germany?

Colonial architecture

As you enter the town from the desert, it seems like a dream to find those european mansions in the middle of nothing...
Namibia has been a german colony for a long period, and the german influence is visible all around the town, much more here than in the capital (Windhoek), as here there are still all buildings from that time.

You can also find several antique shops selling memorabilia of that period, similar to what you can find in Kenya, but with a german accent.

A truck travel

The truck

I arrived to Swakopmund in a group tour from Windhoek. My friend Javier and me joined that small international group in the capital and travelled in the truck U C in the pic all around Namibia till the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
We slep in tents, had lunch in the middle of the desert and visited all the dunes around there. It was a 7 days safari... fun!!

Last visit to Swakopmund: Aug 1999
Intro Updated Oct 24, 2003
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Reviews (8)

Don't step on the Welwitschias!! - Swakopmund

Don't step on the Welwitschias!! Warnings and Dangers (1)

The Welwitschia Mirabillis are a unique kind of plant, one of the oldest in earth (around 2.000 years some of them).... more travel advice

Lunch in front of the truck - Swakopmund

Trip with a truck Transportation (2)

We made a 12 days tour by truck from Windhoek to Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park. In a group of 12... more travel advice

See Skeleton Coast from the air - Swakopmund

See Skeleton Coast from the air Transportation (2)

There are a lot of activities to do in Swakopmund, mainly in december (our summer). One of the best is an airplane ride... more travel advice

Swakopmund Restcamp Hotels (1)

A nice place to stay, with those rather peculiar white and blue cottages, that have a room, WC and kitchen downstairs... more travel advice

Travelogues (1)

Written Sep 4, 2002

5 photos

Diary Swakopmund

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Comments (18)

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mvtouring Mar 13, 2007 at 1:10 AM

Off to Swakopmund on the 5th April, so your tips will help me a lot. Thanks ;-)
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Jim_Eliason Feb 18, 2007 at 9:05 AM

great page! I did not expect such modern looking cities in Nambia.
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nigelw6443 Aug 29, 2006 at 7:38 AM

Thanks for the tips, I will be looking for the German pub! I am booked in the Hansa Hotel.
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Myndo May 5, 2005 at 9:12 AM

Short tips, but right up to the point! I like your Swakopmund pages. Thanks for sharing!
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sachara May 11, 2004 at 1:39 PM

August 1999, we were also in Swakopmund at that time !! Great pictures, especially the ones from the air !
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BerniShand Apr 11, 2004 at 5:27 AM

another place l had never heard of, the photographs, tips and notebook are great......as always !
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CliffClaven Jan 21, 2004 at 1:40 AM

Bizarre place, often misty, between hot desert and cold ocean
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alza Jan 18, 2004 at 10:48 AM

just discovered Swakopmund. Often, on your pages, I feel like I'm breaking out of my cocoon! tks. Good, surprising intro pic.
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diageva Dec 18, 2003 at 12:44 PM

unknown for me the information of Namibia, and Swakopmund, thanks, as always for those travelogues with Dairies and beautiful watercolours that makes you live the experience :))
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pepples46 Dec 9, 2003 at 5:58 PM

your intro pic is just awesome, the title intriging, your diary excellent as usual ^..^ and the whole page just wonderful. tks for sharing