Inhalt

Swakopmund

Introduction & planning tips

Swakopmund is Namibia’s best developed coastal resort. It lies in an excellent position between the Atlantic and the dunes of the Namib Desert. The gravel plains of the Namib lie just north of Swakopmund. Its location offers travellers easy access to all the environments of the Namib. Read more >>

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Planning information

A minimum stay of one full day and two nights is recommended in order to give the traveller at least one morning for activities and an afternoon free to relax or select from additional activities.

Two full days and three nights is recommended if the traveller wishes to visit Sandwich Harbour or Cape Cross if it can not be incorporated on the outward or inward journey to or from Swakopmund.

Swakopmund is a full-fledged, developed town with modern facilities:
* Numerious petrol stations and garages
* Several banks and ATM's
* Shopping centres of various sizes
* Restaurants, coffee shops and bars
* Hospital
* Airport

Branch with Bureau de Change
Cnr. Tobias Hanyeko Street & Sam Nujoma Avenue
Mon - Fri: 08h30 - 15h30
Sat: 08h30 - 12h00
Hours may vary.

Itinerary
The town can be incorporated as the point visited immediately after arrival in Windhoek or just prior to return to Windhoek. However, it can also be scheduled towards the middle of an itinerary, e.g. Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, Twyfelfontein, Etosha National Park, Otjiwarongo or the reverse.

Namibians on Holiday
During December and over the Easter period, Swakopmund becomes the playground of Namibians and visiting South Africans who come for the fishing in particular. Accommodation is hard to find during these periods and although the town is relatively small, it becomes crowded.

Timing of visit
The best time to visit is during the high season. At other times of the year, the high number of Namibians and South Africans may cause difficulties in finding accommodation.

One way roads
Swakopmund has a large number of one way roads in the centre of town. Travellers should be advised to take particular note of street signs prior to turning. If a road travels in one direction, the road in the next block down will usually travel in the opposite direction. A large amount of zig-zagging may be required before the self drive traveller is fully at his or her ease.

Clothing & sun
Swakopmund is generally damp in the morning and sunny from mid morning onwards. Mist may rise again in the late afternoon. Travellers should carry clothing accordingly. Even if it does look like a hot sunny day, take a jersey or jacket along. For dune activities, a hat, sunscreen, good shoes and socks are a firm recommendation, as is large amounts of sunscreen. Although it may appear cool and misty, sunburn can still be a serious problem.

Swimming
Although many people swim, travellers should be advised that the water around Swakopmund is generally cold.

Closed on Sunday & public holidays
Many restaurants and shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays. If the itinerary visits Swakopmund on a Sunday or a public holiday, it is advisable to pre-book an activity.

Swakopmund lies at the heart of a very ecologically sensitive area. Travellers should take care not to disturb birds or nature, should not litter, remove anything, or make fires unless permitted. Rules and guidelines will be posted at the entrance to ecologically sensitive areas.

* The Namib dunes
* The beach and the Atlantic
* The gravel plains of the Namib
* Quaint German architecture in the setting of the desert
* Shopping
* Good wining and dining
* Geared to hospitality
* Art and culture
* Desert activities and day trips
* A sense of history and museums
* Relaxation, particularly mid-tour

Travel details

* Swakopmund can be reached in a small 2 X 4 sedan.
* Although Swakopmund lies in an arid area, rain in other parts of the country can cause rivers to flow. The onset of the flow is very rapid.
* As a large part of the journey may takes place on gravel roads, consultants should switch to a 4x4 vehicle during the rainy season (October to April) if gravel roads are used.

* Walvis Bay
* Solitaire
* Sesriem & Sossusvlei
* Okahandja
* Omaruru
* Otjiwarongo
* Palmwag Concession
* Twyfelfontein
* Uis
* Waterberg
* Windhoek

Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay to Swakopmund is approx. 30 km
* From Walvis Bay drive north on the B2 to Swakopmund (approx. 30 km)
The entire route is on tar road

Sesriem
Sesriem to Swakopmund is approx. 343 km
* From Sesriem take the D826 to the C19 turn off (approx. 11 km)
* Turn left into the C19 and drive to Solitaire (approx. 72 km)
* From Solitaire drive north on the C14 to Walvis Bay (approx. 230 km)
* From Walvis Bay follow the B2 to Swakopmund (approx. 30 km)
The B2 is tar road. The rest of the route is on gravel road.
En-route attractions: Gaub & Kuiseb Canyon

Omaruru
Omaruru to Swakopmund is approx. 234 km
* From Omaruru drive south on the C33 to Karabib (approx. 59 km)
* From Karabib drive west on the B2 to Swakopmund (approx. 175 km)
The entire route is on tar road
En-route attractions: Martin Luther steam engine
Small detour attractions: Spitzkoppe & Regimental Badges

Palmwag Concession via Skeleton Coast Park
Palmwag Concession via Skeleton Coast Park to Swakopmund is approx. 459 km
* From Palmwag Concession drive south on the C43 to the C39 turn off (approx. 39 km)
* Turn right into the C39 to the C34 turn off (approx. 93 km)
* Turn left into the C34 and drive to Swakopmund (approx. 327 km)
The entire route is on gravel road
En-route attractions: Skeleton Coast Park and Cape Cross.

Twyfelfontein via Uis
Twyfelfontein via Uis to Swakopmund is approx. 324 km
* Drive north on the D3214 to the D2612 turn off (approx. 10 km)
* Turn right into the D2612 and continue to the C35 turn off (approx. 62 km)
* Turn right into the C35 and follow it via Uis to the C34 turn off (approx. 174 km)
* Drive south on the C34 to Henties Bay (approx. 6 km)
* From Henties drive south on the C34 to Swakopmund (approx. 72 km)
The entire route is on gravel road
Detour attraction: Cape Cross

Waterberg Plateau Park
Waterberg Plateau Park to Swakopmund is approx. 462 km
* From Waterberg take the D2512 and drive to the C22 turn off (approx. 24 km)
* Turn right into the C22 and drive to the B1 turn off (approx. 41 km)
* Turn right into the B1 and drive north to Otjiwarongo (approx. 28 km)
* From Otjiwarongo take the C33 and drive to Omaruru (approx. 135 km)
* From Omaruru drive south on the C33 to Karabib (approx. 59 km)
* From Karabib drive west on the B2 to Swakopmund (approx. 175 km)
The D2512 is gravel road. The rest of the route is on tar road.
En-route attractions: Martin Luther steam engine
Small detour attractions: Spitzkoppe & Regimental Badges

Windhoek via Okahandja, Karabis & Usakos
Windhoek via Okahandja, Karabis & Usakos to Swakopmund is approx. 353 km
* From Windhoek drive north on the B1 to Okahandja (approx. 66 km)
* From Okahandja drive west on the B2 to Karabib (approx. 112 km)
* From Karabib continue on the B2 to Usakos (approx. 32 km)
* From Usakos continue west on the B2 to Swakopmund (approx. 143 km)
The entire route is on tar road.
En-route attractions: Martin Luther steam engine
Small detour attractions: Spitzkoppe & Regimental Badges

Swakopmund Airport (FYSM)
South: 22 degrees 39’ 30”
East: 14 degrees 34’ 00"
Elevation: 170 feet
RF: 126.3 MHz
Cautions/Warning: Frequent para-jump activities may be taking place

Swakopmund Airport Runway Data

Runway	06/24	17/35
Length (meter)	1,600	963
Width (meter)	24	24
Surface	tar	sand

Accomms index

Activity operators

To do: Swakopmund

The centre of Swakopmund has a number of options for travellers, many of which are particularly good for filling spare time.

Following renovation, the jetty was re-opened in October 2006. The southern side of the jetty is reserved for walkers. The northern side is reserved for fishing. The jetty is located on the southern end of the beach near the Swakopmund town centre. It also makes an excellent backdrop for sunset photographs.

The Mole, Swakopmund’s most popular beach, is a small, palm-lined cove, sheltered by a breakwater. It is just off the centre of town, and is surrounded by cafes, restaurants and a walkway leading to the breakwater. As The Mole provides sheltered swimming, it is very popular with Swakopmunders and is crowded over weekends. A small stage, used sporadically for events, is located at The Mole, and may be the scene of band performances or local beauty pageants. A paved path along the beachfront, heading north from The Mole, gives travellers an opportunity for a walk.

Note: swimming out from The Mole should not be done as the area just off the breakwater is known for strong currents.

A stretch of beach, approximately 500 metres long lies between the Mole and the jetty. This is usually well used over weekends, and is a favourite spot for sunset walks. Although the beach is generally safe, travellers should be cautioned to leave the beach after sunset as there have been some criminal incidents on the beach after dark.

The Swakopmund Museum, at the Mole, is small, but interesting. It contains displays relating to the Namib and Atlantic environments, wildlife, insects and plants of the area. There is a mineral display, a section on rock art, and a display on the history of the coast, including relics from ships that ran aground on the Namibian coast.

There is also an excellent display on the cultures of Namibia. Additional points of interest are an original ox wagon used in the trek between Namibia and Angola and replicas of a dentist's practice and pharmacy rooms from the early 20th century, including the original equipment.

An old sword, found during an excavation for a building, is on display. The style of the sword dates it at about 500 years old, indicating that Diogo Cao may have landed at Swakopmund.

UPDATE: Closed for renovations

The Aquarium is closed till February 2012 for renovations

A small aquarium is located near the jetty on the beach at the southern end of the town. It contains a large walk-through tank and a number of smaller tanks. Live species on display, including a few sharks, are collected from the Namibian coastline. A number of displays explain Namibia’s marine system and ecology.

Transport played a very critical role in the development of Swakopmund. A small transport museum is situated on premises shared with OMEG Haus. Examples of old equipment are on display. There is also a photographic display with images of the wharf, jetty, the railways and early aviation.

Living Desert Snake Park is a small, but excellent snake park is located on the premises shared with OMEG Haus in the upper part of Sam Nujoma Road, the main thoroughfare through Swakopmund. Visitors have the opportunity to see more of the reptiles of the Namib and a tame iguana.

Swakopmund provides a good amount of shopping for travellers, particularly in the centre of the town. Fashion, jewellery, art, curios, precious and semi-precious stones and other minerals are amongst the items that can be purchased. The prices are generally high by Namibian standards. This is due to the fact that Swakopmund has a seasonal economy linked to tourism.

There are a number of art galleries around Swakopmund displaying fine art, photography and sculpture. Themes tend to be dominated by the environment, art with an African flair and depictions of life in Namibia. Some art will be on sale. A number of street sellers sell unframed art, African carvings and craft.

Save the Rhino Trust operates a craft center in the Woermann and Brock Mall in the centre of Swakopmund. Part of the proceeds of the centre go towards sustaining activities of the trust. Further proceeds go back to communities to alleviate poverty and reduce the incidence of poaching of black rhino and desert elephants in Damaraland and Kaokoland.

Swakopmund contains numerous restaurants and cafes. The food is mainly influenced by the German culinary tradition. There are a number of franchised fast-food outlets. Note that most cafes and many restaurants will be closed on Sundays. The more expensive restaurants may require bookings. Travellers should enquire at the reception of their accommodation establishments, or ask their guides.

There are a number of pubs and bars located around Swakopmund, normally linked to restaurants or cafes, some of which offer sea views or are in close proximity to the beach. Of note are Namibian beers and South African wines.

Monuments in Swakopmund

Swakopmund has a number of monuments, dating from the time following its establishment and during the colonial occupation by Germany.

Bismarck Street. Woermann Haus was designed in 1904 by architect Hoft, and constructed in 1905. The building was commissioned by Damara and Namaqua Trading Company. The Damara and Namaqua Trading Company was a joint venture between the company C Woermann, owners of the Woermann Line, and the Südwestafrika Gesellschaft (the South West Africa Company). The Woermann Line was the first shipping company to land passengers at Swakopmund, and went on to become one of the most prominent shippers to Namibia. The South West Africa Company supplied goods to the interior of Namibia.

The tower, known as the Damara Tower, was used a landmark for ships, and served as a lookout for ships.

The building housed the manager of the company, his family, servants and officials. In 1907, Prince Joachim Albrecht of Prussia visited, and the rooms in which he stayed were converted into a ‘royal suite’. During World War 1, it was used as an administrative complex by the Union of South Africa. It was subsequently used as a hostel for primary school girls. In 1976, it was converted into a library, and the upper floors are used as a gallery by the Swakopmund Arts Association.

Corner of Moses //Garoeb and Feld Streets. Although there was a prison in Swakopmund, this was deemed ineffective by the governor Curt von Francois. Between 1907 and 1908. a larger prison was constructed. It was immediately put to use, and has been a prison ever since. Due to the colonial charm of its façade, travellers regularly knock at its doors asking for accommodation. Unless they have committed a crime, their request is turned down.

Corner of Anton Lubowski and Bismarck Streets. The Old Barracks were built between 1905 and 1906 to house the Zweite Eisenbahn Baukompanie (The Second Railway Construction Company) who arrived in Swakopmund in 1904, to help build a wooden wharf, which was later replaced with the jetty. Although the Kaserne has the appearance of a fort, the windows are too large for defensive purposes, and the turrets and tower are purely for decorative purposes. After World War 1, the building was used as a school, and then for general educational purposes. In 1993, it was converted into a youth hostel.

Sam Nujoma Avenue. OMEG Haus was a goods shed next to the Otavi Bahn terminal The terminal is not a monument, but OMEG Haus is. OMEG Haus was built in 1911. Today it has been converted into accommodation for visiting scientists and researchers. It shares premises with the Transport Museum and a small but excellent snake park.

Corner of Daniel Tjongarero Avenue and Otavi Street. The Evangelical Church is the second oldest Lutheran church in Namibia, after the Christus Kirche in Windhoek. It consists of a church and a parsonage. The Swakopmund parish of the Lutheran community in Swakopmund was established in 1905. As there was no church, services were first held in the room of a printing shop and then the school. Construction began in 1910 and the church was consecrated in 1912.

Corner of Anton Lubowski and Bismarck Streets opposite the Old Barracks. The Prinzessin Ruprecht Heim was built as a hospital in 1902. In 1910, its management was taken over by the Bayerischer Landesverband des Frauenvereins vom Roten Kreuz (The Bavarian Women’s Association of the Red Cross). A donation from the Red Cross in Germany enabled the association to upgrade the buildings. In 1914, the building was opened by the German colonial governor at the time, Theodor Seitz. It was named after the deceased wife of Crown Prince Rupprecht, who prior to her death was Patroness of the Bavarian Red Cross.

Corner of Anton Lubowski and Moses //Garoeb Streets. The Kramersdorf Building, formerly known as the Scultetus Heim, was built by a German engineer, F Kramer, in 1912 as his residence. It was later equipped as a boys’ hostel by Major Oskar Scultetus. It was subsequently used as to provide accommodation for employees of the South West Africa Company while they were on leave. It then became a private residence.

Interestingly, Kramer erected a light industrial complex some 2 km from the centre of Swakopmund, at the time. The complex had its own railway line connecting to the main railway line and the jetty. The complex consisted of a carpentry workshop, locksmith, a machine building plant and a smith. This complex was known as Kramersdorf. As Swakopmund expanded, Kramersdorf became a residential suburb which still bears the name Kramersdorf.

Behind the Mole. The Marine Memorial was erected to honour the German marines who were involved in the relief of Karibib and Otjimbingwe during the Herero uprising in the first half of January 1904. The Schutztruppe who were stationed in the territory at the time of the uprising were not at full strength so a troop of German marines who were aboard a German battleship awaiting repairs in Cape Town was dispatched aboard the same ship. The troop consisted of a Lieutenant Commander, two officers, a doctor and 52 soldiers.

The unit met the Hereros 28 km from Otjimbingwe and defeated them with the loss of one soldier. They then headed towards Okahandja, skirmishing along the way and losing a further marine.

Another troop of 17 marines and one officer arrived later. They were accompanied by a railway construction unit with two officers and 55 men. The second unit left to relieve Otjimbingwe on 9 February 1904. The railway construction unit set off along the railway line to Karibib in order to repair damage done by heavy rains and Herero attacks.

The marine Memorial commemorates the battles fought and the marines who lost their lives. It was erected and inaugurated in 1908.

Corner of Libertine Amathila Avenue and Tobias Hainyeko Street. The Hohenzollern Building is also known as Atlas House, after the statue of Atlas that is clearly visible. It was built between 1905 and 1906 by Croatian artisans. The supervising builder, Hermann Dietz left his mark on the building in the form of his initials, HD, which are visible on the north face of the building. There are a large number of ornaments on the building, including cherubs, masks and lions. The figures of the dancing children are reported to be a scene from Shakespeare’s play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

The building takes its name from the ruling German dynasty at the time. An interesting legend has it that the Hohenzollern Building was once a brothel.

The building was erected as a hotel. It later served as offices, after which it was rented out to the public as residential space. The building was subdivided and sold off as dwelling units. Two wings were added on either side in the very recent past.

To do: Swakopmund Vicinity

The Swakopmund vicinity offers a number of natural attractions, sites of historical interest, monuments and day trips in its vicinity.

The gravel plains of the Namib lie east of Swakopmund. On these gravel plains, the traveller can do the Welwitschia Plains Drive as a self drive, visit the Badges Monument, do a short tour of geological interest to the Rossing Uranium Mine. A cable slide from Rossing Mountain offers an exhilarating experience for the adventurous. There is also a Golf course located in the bed of the Swakopmund River.

The Horses’ Graveyard is an area in the desert to the north of Swakopmund in which are found hundreds of bones of horses. Although the site was badly damaged by irresponsible offroad drivers and quad bikers, photo opportunities remain, and the site has historical interest.

The Moon Landscape is a rather beautiful view of the rugged hills that lie beyond the gravel plains of the Namib. It can be seen on the Welwitschia Drive.

The Welwitschia Drive is a half-day, self-drive circuit of the Namib Naukluft Park in the vicinity of Swakopmund that gives travellers a look at the gravel plains of the Namib, the moon landscape, the Welwitschia mirabilis and a few sites of historical interest. A permit to enter the Namib Naukluft Park is required.

Monument. The Martin Luther steam engine was used in 1896 in a failed attempt to cross part of the Namib from Swakopmund. It stands at the point where it stopped. The Martin Luther steam engine can be seen on the highway some 5 km east of Swakopmund. It was recently restored but, due to climatic conditions that damaged it in the past, it now stands behind glass.

Sandwich Harbour is approx. 110 km south of Swakopmund, beyond the town of Walvis Bay. It is a remarkably beautiful attraction that consists of a lagoon lying between the Atlantic Shore and high dunes of the Namib sand sea. In addition to being a Ramsar wetland of international importance with exceptional opportunities for bird watching, it also has a rich and colourful history.

Note: under NO circumstances should travellers attempt to drive to Sandwich Harbour. The trip should only be done with an experienced activity operator.

Monument. Cape Cross is approx. 125 km north of Swakopmund, beyond the town of Henties Bay, and so requires a full day’s excursion, if not incorporated on the route to or from Swakopmund. The excursion can be done as a self drive. Travellers see one of the points at which Portuguese explorer Diogo Cao landed on Namibia’s coastline. A replica cross marks the site at which Diogo Cao erected a cross to mark his landing. Another replica cross, placed erroneously by the colonial German government is also located on the site. The original cross is kept in a museum in Kiel, Germany. Cape Cross is also the location of giant colony of Cape fur seals.

Rossing Uranium Mine is the fifth largest uranium producer in the world. Day tours to the mine can be arranged, and will be a particular attraction to those who are interested in geology. There is no hazard of exposure to radioactive materials, and visitors and employees wear film badges that change colour in the highly unlikely event of exposure to abnormal amounts of radioactivity. Travellers should enquire at the reception of their accommodation establishments.

Monument. Two regimental badges, 157 and 158 were constructed as landscape features by the Second Durban Light Infantry and the Transvaal Scottish Regiment in the period April – May 1915. They are made of basalt stone found in the area.

The two regiments were part of General Jan Smuts’ expeditionary force during World War 1, and were assigned to patrol the railway line in the vicinity and prevent sabotage and stop attacks by hostile Germans.

* Travel 50 km east of Swakopmund along the B1.
* Turn left at the national monument sign.
* Travel approx. 1 km on a gravel road.
* Stop at the railway line and walk about 100 m to the site.
* A platform has been erected from which the badges can be seen at an elevation.

Activities in & around Swakopmund

The Swakopmund vicinity offers a number of natural attractions, sites of historical interest, monuments and day trips in its vicinity.

Quad biking on the dunes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay is a particularly popular activity. There are a number of activity operators who offer the opportunity. However, travellers should be cautioned that this is a dangerous activity, if practiced in an irresponsible manner, and that it has caused a number of injuries. Travellers must fully familiarise themselves with the contents of indemnity and liability waiver forms which they will be asked to sign. Additionally, quad biking is only allowed in demarcated areas due to environmental sensitivity and conservation concerns. Travellers should proceed cautiously and carefully with due regard for their safety, the environment and the stipulations of the activity operator.

Note: operators should always stipulate that an activity such as quad biking is solely at the discretion of the traveller, and take contractual precautions to limit liability in the event of accidents.

A number of activity operators offer dune driving in the dunes to the south of Swakopmund. On no account should the traveller be allowed to even consider driving offroad in a rental vehicle. Dune driving is a difficult skill to master, can cause serious accidents and is a threat to the sensitive environment, particularly the breeding ground of the endangered Damara tern which nests in the plain between the dunes and the upper tide line.

Note: dune driving should only be done on a supervised activity excursion. In an effort to control environmental damage, a permit is required. Drivers found without this permit will have to pay a minimum fine of N$ 300.

Dune walks are a popular activity. The best times for dune walks are from sunrise until approximately 10h00 in the morning and in the late afternoon. Travellers should not stray too far, should exercise caution concerning the environment and should not stray into areas demarcated for quad biking and dune driving.

Sand boarding and skiing are amongst ‘extreme’ activities offered at the coast and attract a number of participants. As with quad biking, operators should always stipulate that an activity such as sand boarding or sand skiing are solely at the discretion of the traveller, and take contractual precautions to limit liability in the event of accidents.

Swakopmund and the area of coast on which it falls is renowned for surf angling. Species caught include cob, kabeljou, galjoen and steenbras. Sharks are also landed. Species include the copper shark, cow shark and spotted gully shark. A number of activity operators offer deep sea fishing for tuna, yellowtail and snoek, from November to March. Activity operators will provide gear, however gear can also be purchased in Swakopmund. Fishing requires a permit, and only may only be done within demarcated areas. A number of activity operators combine fishing with sightseeing in the less accessible areas of the coast.

A number of activity operators specialise in boat trips along the Namibian coast. The majority of these are short half-day trips and depart from Walvis Bay, some 30 km south of Swakopmund. Attractions include dusky, heaviside and bottlenosed dolphins, sightings of the endangered Damara tern, visits to guano islands and visits to the seal colony at Walvis Bay. Whales may be sighted, but rarely. Longer trips to Sandwich Harbour are available, and may be combined with 4X4 excursions into the dunes. Fishing trips are also available. Kayaking tours can be done on the Walvis Bay lagoon.

Sky diving and sky diving training is offered. Tandem jumps are available for those with no or little experience. Normally, participants have to be 21 years of age, however younger people may do so with the signed consent of their guardians.

The uplift of air from the coast over the face of the dunes provides fair conditions for power kites. Travellers wishing to use power kites should be warned of steep drop-offs on the sides of dunes facing away from the coast as they may be pulled over the edge causing injury. Parafoil flights and parafoil flight training are also offered, although the elevation offered by the dunes is not particularly high.

The Flying Fox cable slide consists of a length of cable that descends from the peak of the Rossing Mountain to the ground below. The descent is made by sliding with a pulley attached to a harness. The slope makes the ride relatively fast but safe. Rossing Mountain and the Flying Fox lie east of Swakopmund, and can be booked with activity operators.

Scenic flights depart from Swakopmund airport. These are in light aircraft and microlight aircraft. Microlight aircraft excursions are generally short and involve a flight up and down the beach, taking in part of the dunes. Excursions in other aircraft vary in length, ranging from flights over Swakopmund, the dune sea and Sandwich Harbour to longer flights that may fly over the Skeleton Coast and the Skeleton Coast wrecks, trips to Sossusvlei and the Fish River Canyon, and visits to Kaokoland and cultural encounters in Himba Villages.

The Rossmund golf course is an 18-hole, par 72 golf course in the Swakopmund River. The course length is 6,068 m. It offers excellent views of the Namib Desert, yet is fully grassed. Clubs and motorised golf carts are available for visitors. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, pool and pro shop. Visitors fees apply. Travellers should enquire at the reception of their accommodation.

Swakopmund and its vicinity offer excellent opportunities for bird watching, as it gives travellers the opportunity to see species in the desert and the coastline. Swakopmund is also in close proximity to two coastal wetlands which harbour both endemics and migratory birds. The two wetlands, at Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour are both Ramsar sites.

A number of activity operators offer camel and horse trails in the vicinity of Swakopmund. These vary in duration from a few hours, to a full day to overnight camping stays in the desert. These activities are supervised.

Marketing descriptions

Background for clients & guides

The name Swakopmund is derived from the word ‘Tsaokhaub’, which actually means diarrhoea. The term refers to the appearance of the Swakop River when it comes down in flood. However the name was simplified to Swakop and the town was named Swakopmund, meaning the Swakop River mouth, which has far happier and wholesome connotations.

Legend has it that the Hohenzollern Building was once a brothel. Namibian historian, Andreas Vogt, author of the book, National Monuments in Namibia gives an interesting clarification on this legend. The Hohenzoller Haus was used as a hotel for much of its existence. As a hotel, it also contained a bar and, in the German tradition, there was no separation of bars for men and women.

When the Union Troops arrived from South Africa in 1915, they naturally visited the bar, having come a long way and developed a large thirst in the dry reaches of the Namib Desert.

The Union Troops were shocked to find that men and women drank together in one bar. British tradition was that men drank in 'the bar' and women drank in a separate ‘ladies’ bar’. This led to the mistaken idea and legend that Haus Hohenzoller Haus was used as a brothel.

Swakopmund was established in 1892, two years after Windhoek. The decision to establish the town was taken by then colonial German governor Curt von Francois. The reason for his decision was that the colony needed a port. At that point, the only harbour was occupied by the British. The actual location was chosen for its access to fresh water. The Tsaokhaub River was later renamed the Swakop River.

On 4 August 1892, the crew of the gunboat, Hyena, erected two beacons, one on the site of the current lighthouse, and the other where the Mole stands today. The area between these beacons was the identified landing for 120 German colonial troops, known as Schutztruppe, and 40 civilian settlers. The settlers and troops arrived on the Marie Woermann, a ship of the Woermann line. The settlers built rough shelters on the beach to protect themselves from the hardships of the weather. In September 1892, the first building was erected, a barrack for the troops.

As ships of the Woermann Line began to arrive on a regular basis, carrying desperately needed goods for the colony, Swakopmund began to develop. Town plans were drawn up by Dr Rhode. Due to a shortage of building materials, the first houses were constructed of wood.

Goods were initially landed by small wooden boats manned by men of the Kroo tribe from Liberia. In 1894, four ships arrived. In 1895, five ships arrived. In 1896, a bi-monthly service was introduced. Ships began to arrive monthly in 1899. A wooden jetty was built to assist with the landing of goods. It was completed in 1905.

In 1895, the town’s first cemetery was established, and became the final resting place of five sailors who died in a boating accident.

Due to the 100 km strip of desert between Swakopmund and the interior, transport to the interior was difficult, and the ‘Baai Weg’ route from Walvis Bay and Swakopmund was marked by the bones of oxen that died hauling wagons and carts. In 1896, Lieutenant Edmund Troost attempted to solve the problem by importing a steam engine, However the steam engine, which came to be known as Martin Luther, failed and is now one of the monuments around Swakopmund.

In 1897, construction began on a railway line to link Windhoek and Swakopmund. Perhaps the opening of the first post office in the same year was a sign of the citizens’ optimism. By 1899, the line had reached Karibib, and in 1902, it reached Windhoek.

However that was not the only railway line. A private railway line, the Otavi Bahn was built and used by the South West Africa Company to transport copper from Tsumeb to the nearest port. Construction began in 1903, and was completed in 1906. The railway line ran from Tsumeb to Swakopmund via Otavi, Otjiwarongo and Omaruru. A private company called OMEG, the Otavi Minen und Eisenbahn Gesellschaft, was established to manage and maintain the line, equipment and rolling stock.

The OMEG railway line also passed through Karibib and, in 1910, the German colonial government closed the unprofitable state railway line, and began using the OMEG line instead.

In 1901, the Mole was completed and the first passengers landed. And in 1905, the wooden jetty was completed. However the problems with offloading ships were not at an end.

The wooden jetty soon became infested with bore worms and work began on a longer iron jetty in 1911. Construction of the jetty was interrupted by the outbreak of World War 1. In September 1914 the town was shelled by the naval cruisers Armadale Castle British and Kinfauns Castle. At the end of September, the railway line was used to evacuate the town inland.

In January of 1915, British troops occupied Swakopmund. A story tells of the British arrival during a meal for officers at Nonidas, near Swakopmund. Apparently the Germans, on seeing the enemy in superior numbers took to their horses and rode into the desert. The British officers, entering Nonidas, could not pass up the opportunity for a rare, hot meal and sat down to continue the meal that the Germans had left.

After their arrival, a major outbreak of glanders occurred amongst horses and mules imported by the troops. This led to the phenomenon of the horses’ graveyard.

The war spelled an end of sorts for Swakopmund. Administrative functions ceased, and the harbour at Walvis Bay meant that there was no need for a harbour at Swakopmund. Work on the jetty halted, however the railway line meant that Swakopmund continued life, albeit as a smaller town, more focused on the early travel trade.

In 1928, however, a monumental event in the history of the town occurred. Captain Peter Louw and his wife Margery, once a radiographer at Guy’s Hospital in London before marrying Louw, conducted a radiography test on a rock found 12 km west of the Rossing deposit, and discovered the presence of uranium in the area. This led to the establishment of the Rossing Uranium Mine in the late 1970s.

By 1960, the population of the town was over 4,000 souls. In 1967, the tar road reached Swakopmund, and the town became the de facto tourism capital of Namibia.

Swakopmund weather is temperate, but highly variable in the course of a day. The cold weather system of the Benguela current which flows off Namibia’s coast carries moisture into the desert. This combines with the warm air of the Namib to produce mist and fog, sometimes as far as 140 km inland. However at times, the well known ‘East Wind’ blows in from the desert producing hot, clear days. Mornings are often misty. The mist usually clears later in the morning, and often reappears in the evenings. Travellers should dress for a variety of weathers. Swakopmund rarely has rain. Its average rainfall is 15 mm.

The romantic version of the story of the Horses’ Graveyard is that it consists of the skeletal remains of horses used by German colonial forces, the Schutztruppe. However the true story is somewhat different.

In late 1915, troops the Union of South Africa were located at the coastal area, having driven out the German colonial troops, the Schutztruppe. In October 1915 they brought in a large number of horses and mules.

An infectious disease known as glanders broke out amongst the horses and mules. The disease is caused by the bacteria Burkholderia mallei which is spread by contaminated food and water. Symptoms of the disease include lesions in the lungs and ulceration of the mucous membranes in the upper respiratory tract. As the disease reaches its acute stages, the effects are coughing, fever, septicaemia and release of an infectious nasal discharge which infects other animals. The animal dies within days, and animals that it has infected become carriers that will later die as well. The disease is also able to infect humans.

A veterinary officer was sent to the area from Cape Town aboard the ship, ‘British Prince’. He carried with him a serum that was used to diagnose glanders. But the ‘British Prince’ sank off Possession Island, along the Namibian coast, and the veterinary officer was delayed for approximately 10 days, so the number of infected horses and mules increased substantially.

On his arrival, he immediately began his diagnosis and those animals who had later stages of glanders or who tested positively for glanders were destroyed. The number of horses put out of their misery or spared from the fate of glanders number 1,695 and the number of mules, 944.

Today all that remains is their bones, which are occasionally covered by the shifting sands of the Namib, only to appear again when the sands move on.

Few Swakopmund attractions are as prominent as the Jetty. Although it is a favourite for photographers at sunset, it also has an interesting history.

In 1911, Namibia’s only deep water harbour, the harbour at Walvis Bay was occupied by the British.

The German colonial government needed a means to offload goods destined for the coast and the interior of the country. The number of goods and passengers to Swakopmund, carried by ships of the Woermann Line was increasing. Normally, goods were offloaded by small wooden boats manned by men of the Kroo tribe from Nigeria. The boats landed on the Swakopmund beach. There was also a wooden jetty, but this had become unstable and was infested with bore worms.

They decided to build a steel jetty. Plans for the new jetty set the length at 640 m. It would have two cranes capable of lifting two tons and three tons respectively. A railway line was also planned to run the length of the jetty, and link up to other rail lines. A German engineering company, Grün and Bilfinger, who had experience in marine construction in Africa, began work with the assistance of an engineering regiment which were housed in the Old Barracks.

In 1914, World War 1 broke out and construction came to a stop. Only a third of the jetty had been completed. By 1919, the entire country was administered by the Union of South Africa in terms of the peace that followed World War 1. There was no longer a need for the jetty, and plans to lengthen it further were put aside. But work was not yet completed, and a wooden walkway was added on the northern side of the jetty, facing the Mole.

The jetty soon became a very popular feature of life for the people of Swakopmund. It was used for walks and for fishing. But the weather took its toll. In the early 1980s, the jetty was closed for repairs, and the ‘Save the Jetty’ Fund was launched. The jetty reopened in 1986 but was closed again in the late 1990s when an investigation by the town council found that the structure was unsafe.

The jetty was reopened after a major renovation project in October 2006. The southern side is reserved for walkers. The northern side is reserved for fishing.

In the 1890s, the coast of the country was separated from the rest of the country by the Namib Desert. Goods had to come in from South Africa or the coast, but the distance was a major difficulty. The shortest routes, from the coast, travelled from Walvis Bay and Swakopmund to Windhoek, along the ‘Baaiweg’ or Bay Road. Traces of the ‘Baaiweg’ can be seen on the Welwitschia Plains Drive, just outside of Swakopmund.

Goods were transported by ox wagon. The stretch of 100 km through the Namib Desert meant that the oxen could not be fed for seven to eight days. As a result, the oxen had to recuperate and gain weight after the trip, and could not be used for months afterwards. This delayed the transport of goods even more.

Although there was talk of a railway line in the future, a German lieutenant, Edmund Troost, imported a steam locomotive from Germany, in 1896. His plan was to haul the goods from Swakopmund to Heigamkab, where the Swakop River joined the Khan River. This would solve the problems with the oxen and speed up the delivery of goods. However things did not go according to plan.

Firstly, there were problems with landing the locomotive at Swakopmund, so it had to be landed at Walvis Bay. At the time, hostilities broke out between the German colonial government and the Khauas Nama, so transport of the locomotive from Walvis Bay to Swakopmund was delayed for five months.

Driving the locomotive to Swakopmund also proved very difficult, as the engine kept on sinking up to its axles in deep sand. In fact, it took three months for the locomotive to travel the 30 km with its trailer. Yet Edmund Troost was convinced that if the locomotive could just be brought to Swakopmund, it would fare far better on the more solid gravel plains of the Namib.

Once it arrived in Swakopmund, the locomotive made a number of trips carrying goods to Heigamkab (40 km from Swakopmund) and Nonidas (12 km from Swakopmund). Lieutenant Troost’s theory about the harder ground of the gravel plains of the Namib was correct! But another problem arose… the Swakop River came down in flood, putting an end to the locomotive’s trips.
Further plans were made to use the locomotive in construction of the jetty, but these were abandoned, and the locomotive was left to stand on the spot where it had last come to a sputtering halt, the same place where it stands today. Work on the railway began shortly afterwards.

A plaque was erected to commemorate the valiant efforts of the locomotive. The words come from Martin Luther, the German religious reformer who established the Lutheran Church. In 1521, as he stood before the Diet of Worms, answering to charges of heresy, he was asked to renounce his beliefs. He responded with the words, “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”

The Martin Luther steam engine takes its name from this man and his words.

Over the years, the Martin Luther engine was severely eroded by the combination of mist and abrasive winds from the desert. It was restored to its former glory, and now stands under protective brick and glass.

The geology that has produced the ore bodies at Rossing began about 700 million years ago when the area that is the Namib Desert still lay under the sea. Sediments were slowly deposited on the ocean floor. As time went by, these sediments were buried deep in the earth’s crusts, and they hardened. Very high pressures also caused the hardened sediments to fold. Molten granite below the sediments was pushed upwards, and became embedded in the sedimentary rocks. This granite is known as alaskite, and it contains the uranium minerals, uraninite, a microscopically small crystal, and yellow crystals of beta-uranophane.

The surface of the area eroded over millions of years, exposing the uranium deposit at Rossing. There are two large geological formations in the area that are economically viable for mining. They are the Rossing Formation and the Khan Formation.

In 1928, Captain Peter Louw and his wife Margery, once a radiographer at Guy’s Hospital in London before marrying Louw, conducted a radiography test on a rock found 12 km west of the Rossing deposit, and discovered the presence of uranium in the area.

In 1955, mining giant Anglo American took an interest in the project, but withdrew soon afterwards. In 1966, the Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation took over the project and began exploring the area. Rossing Uranium was established in 1970. Pre-production mining began in 1974 and the plant was commissioned in 1976. A fire occurred in the solvent extraction plant in 1978, so full production was delayed until 1979.

In order to produce uranium, the ore is mined and crushed to the size of grains of sand. Sulphuric acid is used to separate the uranium from the rock. The liquid that results is separated into waste liquid and a clear liquid that contains the uranium. The uranium solution is mixed with a resin to which the uranium molecules attach. The resin is then removed to produce a more concentrated solution. This is treated to remove additional impurities. Once the impurities are removed, the remaining material is dried to form what is known as yellow cake. The yellow cake is dried and roasted, then shipped as a grey black powder known as uranium oxide.

As a uranium mine, in a desert, Rossing has various social responsibilities. These include, care for the environment, conservation of water, the health and safety of its employees and providing for its employees. It has performed well in this regard, and even established the nearby town of Arandis for its employees, before handing it to the Namibian government. The town is also a major contributor to the economy of and employment amongst the citizens of Swakopmund.

The mine is co-owned by Rio Tinto (68,8%) and the Namibian government.

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