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Travel Advice for Swakopmund
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Climate
In Swakopmund it is much cooler than inlands. The water is usually too cold for swimming. This is due to the cold Benguela current. The town is often covered in thick fog until noon. Swakop is a popular holiday destination. Especially at Christmas time, when it gets too hot in Windhoek, it is crowded here. Early booking of accommodation is necessary.
 Sights
The beautiful historical buildings in Swakopmund - Hohenzollern Haus, Woermann Haus, Old Provincial Court, Prinzessin Rupprecht Home - you can see an a walk through town. The Lighthouse was built in 1902 and is 21 metres high. The museum next to the lighthouse shows interesting exhibits of the local history. One of the new attractions is the Aquarium of Swakopmund which opened in 1995. It shows examples of the marine life along the Namibian coast in a couple of seawater basins, the biggest having a volume of 350 cubic metres. Among many other fish species, stingrays and sharks can be seen. Daily at 3 o'clock pm the fishes are being hand-fed by divers. Very impressive! The aquarium lies in Strand Street und is open daily - except mondays - from 10am to 4pm.
 Entertainment
Some years ago, the former station of Swakopmund - one of the numerous colonial buildings of the town - was transformed into an elegant casino and entertainment complex, including a 5-star hotel. The Swakopmund Entertainment Centre & Hotel also facilitates camel excursions in the Namib Desert. Tel ++264-(0)64-400800, Fax 400801.
 Restaurants
Erich's Restaurant. 21, Daniel Tjongarero Avenue. Very good international cuisine with emphasis on fresh seafood. Tel 064-405141.
Kückie's Pub. 22, Tobias Hainyeko Street. A long established sociable pub where excellent food is served. Tel 064-402407.
The Lighthouse Pub & Restaurant. At the jetty. Stunning view of the sea from the terrace. Specialities: steaks and seafood. Tel 064-400894.
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Travel Information for the Surroundings
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 Welwitchia Drive
"Welwitschia Mirabilis" is the most famous Namibian plant. Most specimen are about 1000 years old, some even older. 1859 the "living fossil" was discovered by the Austrian botanist Dr. Welwitsch and named after him. The Welwitschia plant only grows two leaves, which over time get slightly shredded by the wind. The desert plant belongs to the succulents, i.e. is able to store water. It takes the water it needs for growing from the air. Welwitschias occur exclusively in the central part of the Namib, between 40 and 120 kilometres off the coast.
 This unique plant can be found along the sign-posted Welwitschia Drive in the Namib Naukluft Park. Behind the steam engine "Martin Luther" you turn off the B2 on to the C28. After 17km turn left on the D1991. The drive leads through the bizarre and bare "Moon Landscape" along the Swakop River. About 450 million years ago layers of soft stone were deposited here and over the ages the river eroded its bed in them.
A permit is required for the Welwitchia Drive. One can buy it for 20 N$ per person at the tourismus office in the Woermann Haus or at the petrol station next to the car dealership Kriess. The stretch is some 160 km long, and one should plan half a day for it.
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 Steam Mobile "Martin Luther"
This curiosity from the times of the ox-wagon before the introduction of the railways stands on the B2 a few kilometres before Swakopmund. The wealthy Schutztruppe officer Troost imported the steam engine in 1896 from Germany. The vehicle with a weight of 1.4 tons was meant to go to Windhoek, but got stuck in the sand straightaway. The people called the engine "Martin Luther" because he once said "Here I stand and can't do otherwise. God help me. Amen!"
Hentiesbaai and Cape Cross
You find travel information on the page "Skeleton Coast"
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Tour Operators in Swakopmund
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Namibia Flug Safaris
Exclusive flights and tours to Kaokoland; Kalahari, Skeleton Coast, Sossussvlei. Tel ++264 (0)64 404500. eMail
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Accommodation in Swakopmund
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Beach Lodge
At the beach, 5 km to centre; sea views; TV; very comfortable rooms; balcony; pool. Tel +264-(0)64 400933. eMail
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Sam's Giardino Hotel
Lux. rooms with telephones; excellent wining and dining; bar; tranquil garden; safe parking. Tel +264-(0)64 403210. eMail
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Restcamp Sophia Dale
Affordable rondavels 12 km from Swakopmund; self-contained; camping/caravan sites.Tel +264-64-403264.eMail
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Swanlamer No.12
Upmarket, yet affordable self catering apartment with seaview, 200m to the beach. Tel 00264 (0)64 405 442. eMail
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Secret Garden Guesth.
In the town centre; en-suite rooms, buffet breakfast; kitchen; affordable; safe. Tel +27-(0)64 404037. eMail
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Accommodation in Henties Bay
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De Duine Country Hotel
Henties Bay; close to beach; rooms with TV + phone. Bar; restaurant; pool; fishing. Tel +264-(0)64 500001. eMail
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