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TravelTips24 : Africa : Southern Africa : Namibia : Central Namibia : Swakopmund

Swakopmund

Swakopmund, known as Swakop in Namibia is the country's biggest coastal town and a mecca for Namibians on holiday. The city's German origins are quite pronounced in beautiful old German Colonial buildings throughout the city, making an even starker contrast for this town sitting at the edge of the Namib Desert.

One artifact of the German colonization includes an old museum/store, selling genuine artifacts from the 19th century. Cover a child's eyes, because some of what is on sale is aesthetically--and historically--difficult to look at.

Travel to Swakopmund & Visa Requirements

By car

The best way to get to Swakopmund is by road from Windhoek. The B2 is the main road from Windhoek, and takes 4-5 hours by car.

By minibus

Minibusses operate from Windhoek almost every 2-3 hours, ask the taxi drivers where the busses leave. There are multiple taxi ranks in Windhoek for different destinations, so make sure you find the right one. For about N$60 you can have a ride in an overloaded minibus. The ride will take about 4-6 hours. Pay immediatly and try to get yourself a seat next to the driver for a bit more space.

Flights and airtickets to Swakopmund

  • Air Namibia [1] A number of flights are offered by Air Namibia, from Windhoek as well as Cape Town in South Africa. Flights operate from Walvis Bay, 35km south of Swakop.
  • South African Airways [2] They operate flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town. SAA flights also operate from Walvis Bay.
  • By small aircraft There are numerous operators in Namibia, and flying from destination to destination on a tour through Namibia is an effective way to minimize the time spend traveling the long distances.

On a Tour or Safari

Swakopmund is a frequent one or two night stop on most tours around Namibia. There are many tour operator doing tours both from Namibia and from outside, such as South Africa.

Buses to Swakopmund

Although the Mini Buses are slightly cheaper and are an experience, they have no fixed time schedule and are often overloaded. So check out these operators:

  • Intercape [3] operates a service from Windhoek via Okahandja. Intercape service also extends to South Africa and Zimbabwe.
  • Econolux Tel +264 64 205935.

By train

The train service to Windhoek will take up to 21 and a half hours.

By ship

The RMS St Helena makes regular round-trips from St Helena Island to Cape Town via Walvis Bay. Catch a taxi from Walvis Bay to Swakopmund.

Tours & Getting around Swakopmund

As with other Namibian cities, there is no public transport in Swakopmund. But the city is small enough to get around easily on foot. All the major attractions and facilities are downtown. It´s hard to get a taxi in city centre, but once you get one it takes you wherever you want for the same rate as the Windhoek Taxis. A trip to Walvis Bay shouldn´t be more than N$40.

Swakopmund city tours

Swakopmund is Namibia's adventure capital. Because of this, taking advantage of the following is a must.

  • Do a tour Go out to see the Welwitschia plants, the Cape Fur Seals at Cape Cross, the Swakop River and the life and beauty of the dunes and desert.
  • Beach People don't come to Swakopmund to hang out in the desert. Hang with the Namibians away on school holiday and go to the beach. You'll find cold water, but warm sands. The beach, just to the north of town, is ringed with museums and cafes.
  • Helicopter You can take marvelous helicopter and lite plane rides around the Skeleton Coast (to the north) and around the Namib desert (the oldest desert in the world, with the tallest sand dune in the world).
  • Sandboarding You can ski the dunes just like you're snowboarding, or ride the board on your belly. Extremely high speeds.
  • Dune 7 Sandboarding, ☎ 064220881(wayne@duneseven.com, fax: 064220881), [4]. Quadbike to take you up; Snacks and Drinks incl.N$ 350.  edit
  • Quad-biking This is an excellent way to see the Namib desert close up. Several tour companies offer lessons and guided tours on four-wheel motorbikes through the desert surrounding the city. Breathtaking views of the dunes and the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Skydiving Learn to jump from concerned, compassionate professionals in one of the cheapest, best skydiving schools on earth.
  • Educate Yourself Swakopmund has one of the best libraries in Africa.
  • Party Swakop has an unusual number of skilled rock musicians and an impromptu "Open Mike Night" can usually be organized at one of the local nightspots. Traveling musicians take note!
  • Okakambe Trails, Horse Rides About 8km outside Swakop. Tel +264 64 402799
  • Camel Safaris About 8km outside Swakop. Tel +264 64 400363
  • Aquarium Pay a visit to the aquarium.
  • Hotair ballooning & Microlight Flights There are few better ways to see the Namib Desert.
  • Walk in the dunes Just south of town on the road to Walvis Bay, there are some nice sand dunes. Cross over the Swakop River, smile at the fact that there's rarely any visible water in it, and stroll through the dunes.
  • Birding There are several birding locations in the town. At the Swakop River mouth there is a small fresh water lagoon which always has good birds to see. In the town there is the water treatment area. This is more for the twitcher (birders chasing rare birds) looking for rare birds. It is only open on working hours on week days. North of the town is the Mile 4 Salt works. Some roads go along the open saline lakes where the salt is being extracted. This area is very important for various birds, including Flamingos.

Swakopmund souvenirs & shopping

There are several nice shops in Swakop selling souvenirs and art. There is also a very good craft market near the lighthouse, which has a lot of items which are difficult to find elsewhere in Namibia.

Swakopmund cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Backpackers

  • Desert Sky Backpackers Lodge, 35 Lazaret St. (at the corner of Breit St.), +264 64 402339, [5]. Five minute walk from downtown and the beach; clean, friendly owner; Internet access; and camping area. $N40 camping, $N70/person for a dorm, $N140 for a double room.
  • Alternative Space, 167 Lazaret St. At the edge of town. The hostel is a unique facility, decorated throughout with Namibian art. $N175 double room, $N225 triple room.
  • Villa Wiese Backpackers, +264 64 407105, [villawiese@compuscan.co.za], [6]. Another great backpackers. Plus they have their own bar.

Upmarket

  • Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre is a 4 star luxury hotel, built in and around the impeccably restored old station building. Includes casino, pool and restaurant. From $N940 per Room, incl. breakfast
  • The Stiltz [7], luxurious with a very romatic setting.

Self-Catering

  • By the Beach, Ph +264 64 405 442 or +264 81 244 6336 (Email: redskyventures@gmail.com). A new self catering accommodation service offering affordable luxury, with sea views, coffee/tea, DSTV in master bedroom and lounge, indoor BBQ, from $N550 per Unit, sleeping up to 6 people.

Swakopmund Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

  • The Tug Restaurant, (at the jetty), ☎ +264 (64) 402356(tug@iafrica.com.na, fax: +264 (64) 402356). A great seafood restaurant. It is an actual tug with a great view of the sea - reservations are essential. edit
  • Light House Pub, (Located at the Mole). Try the calamari and seafood dishes, serves pub meals and restaurant. Big room, so nothing if you want to feel homely. edit
  • Weinmaus, Poststraße. Very friendly host. Not many tables, so make a reservation. edit
  • Kückis Pub. Great seafood. edit
  • de Kelder. A little bit hidden, does not look attractive from outside. But everything else is perfect!  edit
  • Tiffanys. Fresh fish, good wine, reasonable prices. The locals eat here!  edit
  • Cape To Cairo. Excellent african themed restaurant. edit
  • Kupferpfanne. Game food and good wines. edit
  • Out of Africa Get your coffee and cake here. African-sized muffins and mugs of european coffees make you wish for the movies.
  • Cafe Anton Great for an all-you-can-eat Breakfast. Around N$60.
  • Caffe Traff Platz. Great German cafe, lovely breakfast.  edit

Swakopmund nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

This is Jagermeister country and don't forget to sample the famous, locally brewed Hansa Draught.

  • Tiger Reef - beach bar, excellent place for a sundowner on the beach. Go to the aquaruim and walk along the beach in the direction of Walvis Bay. Grab a bottle of bubbly for the amazing sunset (Locally called sundowners)
  • Grunerkrantz Located above Cape to Cairo. This is where everyone comes for their late night drink.
  • Rafters, great sports bar with big LCD screens.
  • Pane Fresco. 7-14:00. Great croissants, freshly baked. Excellent espresso. edit

Get out

  • Swakopmund is a good starting point for trips up the Skeleton Coast. A good day-trip would be south from Swakop to Walvis Bay, Namibia's port town. The road to Walvis Bay provides good views of the Namib dunes meeting the Atlantic.
  • 120 km north of Swakopmund lies Cape Cross, where every October to December about 100,000 of the Cape Fur Seals breed. The sight and the noise (and also the smell) is absolutely breathtaking! The name Cape Cross comes from a stone cross erected 1486 by the Portuguese Diego Cáo. Entry fee to the nature reserve is 10 N$. Accommodation at the Cape Cross Lodge [8].
  • For hobby botanists a half day trip to the south east will take you to the legendary Welwitschia mirabilis plants. In a place where there is no rain for decades the only water source this plant uses is humidity. Welwitschia can become over 1000 years old and only live in this part of the Namib desert, 40 to 120 km away from the coast. Take the welwitschia drive that starts 50 km east of Swakopmund. Be careful not to walk too close to the plants (roots easily destroyed) or even take plants with you, the species is highly endangered!!!

This page was last edited at 14:42, on 20 October 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Nick Roux, David, Philipp Schäufele, Herman Badenhorst, Ulf Harnhammar and Josh Kron, Wikitravel user(s) Morph, Schreini and Dawnview, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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