 Swakopmund : Travel Informations & Sights
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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
Historical Buildings
The beautiful historical buildings in Swakopmund - Hohenzollern Haus, Woermann Haus, Old Provincial Court, Princess Rupprecht Home - you can see an a walk through town.
Swakopmund Lighthouse
The Lighthouse was built in 1902 and is 21 metres high. The museum next to the lighthouse shows interesting exhibits of the local history.
Aquarium
A special attraction is the Aquarium of Swakopmund, opened in 1995. It shows the marine life along the coast of Namibia in a couple of huge 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. Tel (0)64-4101000.
 Restaurant Recommendations
Swakopmund Café. 13, Daniel Tjongarero Avenue. Café and Bistro. Delicious cakes and pastries. Tel 064-400774.
Erich's Restaurant. 21, Daniel Tjongarero Avenue. Very good international cuisine with emphasis on fresh seafood. Tel (0)64-405141.
Kückie's Pub. 22, Tobias Hainyeko Street. A long established sociable pub with great meals. Tel (0)64-402407.
The Lighthouse Pub & Restaurant. At the jetty. Wonderful view of the ocean from a terrace. Specialities: steaks and fish. Tel (0)64-400894.
The Tug. Beach Front. Close to the jetty in hull of an old ship. Terrace with wonderful sunsets. Specialised in fish and seafood. Tel (0)64-402356.
Fish Deli. 28, Daniel Tjongarero Avenue. Snack bar. Fish, fresh and cheap, from fish roll to Bouillabaisse. Tel (0)64-462979. |
Casino & Entertainment Centre
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.
Sights nearby
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 50N$ per person at the tourism office in the "Ritterburg", Knight's Castle. The stretch is some 160 km long, and one should plan half a day for it.
Steam Mobile "Martin Luther"
This curiosity from the times of the ox-wagon before the introduction of the railway stands at 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!" The engine was restored in 2004 and is exhibited indoors in order to protect it from the harsh extremes of the desert climate.
Accommodation
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