Swakopmund
Swakopmund is the trendy town that everyone on a Namibia tour wants to spend a little time in. Known for its eclectic and eccentric culture, it is home to some wonderful cafes and restaurants and it has a wonderful mix of both rustic and more luxurious accommodation; some face the undulating desert dunes, the others are located within the pretty town suburbs and others look out over the quiet beaches and sometimes wild Atlantic Ocean. There is no doubt that Swakopmund is a spectacular destination, definitely one worth visiting.
Warm and welcoming, Swakopmund lies on the west coast of the country, well off the beaten track with the Namib Desert just about surrounding it. It has a unique landscape, in a country well-known for its interesting, almost other-worldly terrain, it offers some of the most delicious food you will ever eat and it is simply a relaxing place to spend a part of your Namibia holiday.
When is the best time to visit Swakopmund?
Swakopmund is an incredibly popular place to visit all year round. July to October is usually the town’s tourism high season and during the December school holidays and the Festive Season, Namibians flock to the town to enjoy the cooler coastal air and the many activities on offer during these periods.
The locals jest about Swakopmund experiencing 4 seasons in one day, with moist early morning mist rolling in off the Atlantic Ocean then burning away under a hot desert sun, often reaching back over the land in the late afternoon or early evening following a breezy afternoon and picturesque sunset.
From December to February the town experiences a typical Namibian summer and the days can get rather hot, making the cold ocean look appealing to those brave enough to take a dip. Those who want to cool off in a different environment can utilise their hotel/lodge swimming pool where available, or select from a variety of exciting ocean-based activities and excursions.
Dine at Local Restaurants
Swakopmund restaurants renowned amongst both the locals and visitors include:
The elegant, old-worlde Hansa Hotel Restaurant for a fine-dining dinner, with exceptional service and menu. Follow dinner with a drink in the cosy, elegant Hansa Bar Lounge, we recommend their speciality Colonial Coffee for a delicious (and potent) taste of history and culture.
The Strand Hotels’ fine in-house selection of The Brewer and Butcher for a fabulous and extensive selection on the Breakfast Buffet, plus great steaks and pizza at lunch and dinner time; the Farmhouse Deli with its’ eclectic and varied selection for brunch, lunch and dinner and the fabulous Ocean Cellar Restaurant for Sushi and all things seafood, in a beautiful beach-front setting.
The Tug Restaurant on the beachfront is built inside an old Tug Boat and the waves crash almost under your feet as you dine inside or on the deck (weather-permitting,) on a magnificent selection for lunch and dinners.
The Brauhaus in the city centre offers traditional German and local food, served with German flare in a typical ‘Brauhaus’ setting and accompanied by some fine local and imported beers.
(At all of the Restaurants, pre-booking is recommended.)
Visit the Museum and Explore the Local Architecture
Swakopmund, much like the rest of Namibia, has an interesting history which is on display all over the town in the form of the various features of architecture, many of which are buildings from the colonial era. Explore the town on foot or per E-Bike, admire the historic buildings and stroll through the museum to find out more about the history of the area.
The renowned, informative and fascinating Swakopmund Crystal Gallery displays some of the largest and most beautiful natural crystals in the world, plus an extensive selection of stones and finished jewellery on sale.
Adventure Activities
Approximately 40 km along the coastal road from Swakopmund lies Walvis Bay, the harbour town from which one can participate in exciting excursions such as a Dolphin & Seal Motorised Boat Cruise, Kayaking with the seals in the quieter waters of the lagoon, or a 4×4 Beach and Dune Drive to the beautiful Sandwich harbour, followed by some exhilarating dune driving in the high and lovely Namib Desert sand dunes.
Quad Biking in the dunes (riding the safe and sturdy bikes on your own or with an experienced driver), Camel rides in the desert, Sand Boarding (standing or lying), Tandem Parachute jumps and fishing from boats or the shore are further popular options to choose from.
And finally, there is a choice of scenic charter flights to select from; take 2 – 3 hours to fly along the Skeleton Coast to view some famous shipwrecks, or over the salt pans and the coastline before turning inwards to fly over the legendary Sossusvlei, or even fly up into the north of Namibia to meet some of the traditional tribe members that still live there in their traditional villages (full day activity.)
We have some excellent Namibia tour packages, which include Swakopmund:
8 Days Etosha, Sossusvlei with a Taste of Swakopmund
This unforgettable Namibia tour is spread out over 8 days and on days 2, 3, 4 and 5 guests will be in Swakopmund which will act as the base from which other exciting highlights such as Sossusvlei can be easily explored.
Beautiful Namibia, Beautiful Contrasts
On day 9 of this Namibia trip which takes guests on an intrepid journey through some of the best parts of Namibia, guests spend a whole day relaxing and doing as they please in Swakopmund. From enjoying a cruise in nearby Walvis Bay to just catching up on some rest and enjoying some indulgent foods, guests can make the most of their time here.
10 Days Fantasia Namibia
This tour takes guests into some of the most beautiful and interesting locations and which includes a lot of time outdoors. On day 3 guests arrive in Swakopmund per charter flight and for the remainder of the day, plus day 4 guests will have time in relax and/or explore in Swakopmund. The tour includes fine accommodation and the options to enjoy a selection of activities in and around Swakopmund.
Planning your Swakopmund Trip
As far as Swakopmund holiday packages go, at ATC Travel Namibia we aim to please by curating a selection of tours that take every aspect of the holiday into consideration. When you are planning your trip, all you need to take care of is getting yourself to Namibia and we will take care of the rest. We’ll ensure that your itinerary is full of interesting and exciting things to do and see and by the time your tour ends, Swakopmund will feel like an old friend and you will probably already be planning your return trip.
To find the best of what Swakopmund has to offer, browse through the many tours that we have on our website, or you can contact our team on info@namibia-safaris.com for more information or a tailor-made option.