Swakopmund, Namibia.

German Style Living

Many of the locals are of German descent, and together with its beautifully preserved colonial architecture, the availability of German style beer, and the precise orderly manner which is evident everywhere, you would be forgiven for thinking you were in a small town in Germany and not on the edge of the Namib Desert.

This effect is most pronounced if you are sitting in the excellent Swakopmund Brauhaus on a foggy or wet evening.

Just look outside at the locals window shopping along the narrow street - and you would swear you are in Bavaria 2 weeks before Christmas! 

Beaches and Holiday Fun

For most overseas visitors the main attraction of Swakopmund is the huge variety of activities on offer.

Particular favourites include scenic flights along the Skeleton Coast or over the Sossusvlei Dunes, dolphin and seal cruises, and quad biking or sand-boarding down the large dunes just a few minutes drive south of the town. 

Combine all this with beaches and promenades, some excellent restaurants, and a cooler climate that offers much needed relief from the baking hot days of the desert, and it is easy to understand why Swakopmund is such a popular holiday destination for Namibians and overseas visitors alike.

The Ups and Downs of Being on the Coast

Being on the Atlantic coast, Swakopmund offers a cooling respite from the hotter temperatures of the inland hot desert, but this can have its disadvantages too. 

Occasionally, a thick grey fog will envelop the town, quickly transforming the sunny holiday resort into a dreary place where you only venture outside if totally necessary - so keep your fingers crossed that this happens when you are in a bar!