The charming town of Swakopmund is a popular seaside resort in Namibia and is very popular among Namibians and foreign tourists alike. Situated on the windswept Atlantic coast, Swakopmund is a fine place where there is an awful lot to do and experience. Admire the German colonial architecture, relax on the beach, discover the best hotspots and go kayaking among hundreds of seals. These are the best tips to do in Swakopmund in Namibia!
1. Kayaking among the fur seals
The very best tip we can give you to do in Swakopmund is to book an excursion where you go kayaking among hundreds of fur seals. We booked our tour at Namibia Kayak Tours and quite this experience is one of our absolute highlights of our tour of Namibia. There are 3 organizations in Walvis Bay that offer kayaking among the fur seals including so Namibia Kayak Tours which we can definitely recommend. Booking in time is a must!
Our experience
Early in the morning we gathered in Walvis Bay from where we left with the group and guides toward Pelican Point. It is about an hour's drive and most of the drive is on sandy trails.
When we arrived at Pelican Point we immediately spotted hundreds of fur seals. Before boarding the kayak we were provided with waterproof suits. The seals are incredibly curious and the longer you float around at sea, the more they come and look at the kayak. They jump out of the water, make backflips and outside even into the blades of our oars. Raising our fist above the water, some fur seals came closer and closer only to bump into it with their noses. An amazing experience. And with a little luck you'll spot a pod of dolphins like we did!
Tip: If you are going to kayak among the fur seals at Walvis Bay, you may want to consider eliminating Cape Cross from your roundtrip. Cape Cross does not allow kayaking between the fur seals and generally a visit to Cape Cross means a nice detour. However, this does not mean that it is not a cool place to visit.
2. A trip to Walvis Bay
Near Swakopmund is the coastal town of Walvis Bay (Walvis Bay). The name of the village refers to the hundreds of whales that used to occur in this area and that you might still encounter while kayaking at sea at Pelican Point.
From Swakopmund you can drive to Walvis Bay within half an hour, making it a nice day trip. Our favorite spot in Walvis Bay is the Flamingo Lagoon where, as you probably suspect, you can spot flamingos. They are not just a few, there are hundreds of them. The salt flats around Walvis Bay are a popular spot for the flamingos who eat a lot of plankton here which gives them their distinctive pink color.
3. Discover the best hotspots in Swakopmund
An important part of vacation for us is eating out, drinking drinks and coffee. This way we discover the nicest hotspots and pleasant side effect is tasting local delicacies. Do you also love eating out, drinking drinks and coffee? Then don't miss these 4 hotspots in Swakopmund!
Dining out at restaurant The Tug
In front of the famous pier 'The Jetty' you will find the iconic restaurant The Tug which is partly built in an old tugboat. Inside the restaurant, then, you can reserve tables in the bridge or captain's quarters. It is the best restaurant in Swakopmund. Whether you choose mussels, oysters or a piece of grilled fish, everything on The Tug's menu is as fresh as it gets. Of course, that's why reservations on time are important for this hot spot.
Drinks at Bar Without a Name
After strolling the streets of Swakopmund, nothing is more fun than settling down at Bar With No Name. A small wine bar where they serve the most fantastic wines with a cheese board. The love and passion for wines radiates from the two owners and that is what makes this place so much fun!
Beer tasting at Brewer & Butcher
At Brewer & Butcher self-brewed beers are served and we can imagine that this will taste very good on a summer day on the terrace. Brewer & Butcher is located on the beach and therefore has views of the bay and the sea. Inside, they have long wooden tables that are typically German and remind us of the atmospheres during Oktoberfest.
Tip: If you are like us in Swakopmund during the winter, they also serve mulled wine at Brewer & Butcher!
4. Walk past the sights of Swakopmund
The center of Swakopmund is very compact, making it easy to walk past the city's highlights. Everywhere you walk you can still see the influences of the colonial German period. Think of the architecture, but also on the menus in the restaurants and in stores where they sell authentic items. For example, use a travel guide such as Bradt Whether the Lonely Planet which lists locations and provides information.
The Jetty
During the colonial period, Swakopmund was an important port. Boats full of cargo, troops and settlers had to anchor off the coast and reach the mainland of Namibia through the strong surf. A life-threatening challenge. It was therefore decided in 1904 to build a wooden jetty. The 325-meter-long pier, also called The Jetty, is therefore a historic site in Swakopmund and a walk on the pier is an absolute must-do. At the end of the pier you will find one of the nicer restaurants in Swakopmund: The Jetty 1905.
Swakopmund Hotel
The station building in Swakopmund is a place you should definitely not miss. In fact, this was the starting point of the first state railroad in Southwest Africa. The train station was built in 1901 and connected Swakopmund with the capital Windhoek. Meanwhile, the station building is no longer used for train transportation but you will find a luxury hotel, the Swakopmund Hotel, and a casino. You can walk in to take a look and possibly have a cup of coffee in the hotel's restaurant.
Swakopmund Museum
At the foot of Swakopmund's lighthouse, which you can see towering over the city from almost every angle, you'll find the Swakopmund Museum in the old harbor warehouse. The warehouse was destroyed by a British warship in 1914. As such, the museum's collection consists of pieces of Swakopmund's history. Think periods of war, the colonial era, information about local tribes and much more.
Woermannhaus
One of the most iconic building, because of its typical German architecture, in Swakopmund is the Woermannhaus. Characteristic of the building is its half-timbered building style with wooden beams and white plastered walls. This is a former trading house that dates back to 1905. In later years, the Woermannhaus was used as a hostel for sailors. Eventually, the building became vacant. After a long period of decay, it received a thorough renovation in 1976 and was declared a national monument.
Hohenzollernhaus
Another notable colonial building in Swakopmund is the Hohenzollernhaus. On the north facade of the building are the initials HD. They refer to Hermann Dietz in whose commission the Hohenzollernhaus was built between 1904 and 1906. Since 1972, it has been a national monument. Today it is used as an apartment complex.
5. Activities in the dunes near Swakopmund
Swakopmund's location between the sea and dunes is one of the reasons this coastal city is so popular. The route to the city takes you through the vast desert of the Namib-Naukluft National Park. You also certainly shouldn't be surprised if the streets in Swakopmund are covered by sand coming from the dunes.
So the desert and sand dunes here are perfect for adventurous activities like sandboarding and quad biking. But another cool activity you can do here is a living desert safari. A tour where you will join a guide to look for wildlife living in the dunes.
Sandwich Harbour
Actually, a visit to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay is not complete without a trip to Sandwich Harbour. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time for it and had to make a choice (kayaking among the fur seals), but we do have a very good reason to return to Namibia one day.
Indeed, Sandwich Harbour is where the meter-high dunes of the Namib-Naukluft National Park merge directly into the surf of the Atlantic Ocean. No one is to be found on the kilometers long but narrow beach. It is therefore an amazing nature reserve to visit. By the way, this can only be done with an organized 4×4 tour because the sea can be quite unpredictable. Big waves and the tides can cause the narrow beach to be swallowed by the sea in no time. Animals you may encounter here are jackals and fur seals. Jackals live here in the desert from hunting fur seals.
6. Visit the Snake Park
Namibia is home to many interesting animals that we only know from movies and books, but have not seen in the wild before. Well, the chances of encountering a dangerous snake like the puff adder in Namibia are not that great either, but they do occur here. Should you find this interesting then a visit to the Snake Park might be of interest. There you can see different species of snakes found in Namibia and learn about why the specific species are even life-threatening in some cases. For a visit you pay 100NAD in July 2022 (about €5.50) entrance fee per person.
7. Stay overnight at Hotel a la Mer in Swakopmund
As you know, we traveled through Namibia with a 4×4 jeep with rooftop tent. But at some locations we opted to sleep in hotels, nice for a change. In Swakopmund we stayed in the fine Hotel A La Mer which is steps away from the historic pier The Jetty. We booked spacious rooms with ocean views. The beds felt extra comfortable after the nights in the tent, and the amenities at the hotel were very nice.
8. Buy souvenirs from the locals
At various places in town there are street vendors eager to sell souvenirs to you. Although some street vendors can be annoying we did not experience this in Swakopmund. A place where many locals sit together with a large supply of wooden trays, jewelry and rugs is at the Craft Market Swakopmund. By buying your souvenir here you support the locals.
