Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are Namibia’s two most important coastal towns yet they lie only a short distance apart. Walvis Bay was originally British controlled while Swakopmund was created as the centre of shipping for German West Africa. Both have their own character although we often tend to use Swakopmund more than Walvis.
Swakopmund is the larger and arguably more interesting of the two towns with a bit more going on definitely more places to eat and drink. This said, activities in the desert and along the surrounding coastline can be done from either town and for those that prefer to be away from the crowds then there are great options on the outskirts of Swakop and in the quieter Walvis area.
This whole area is definintely a must see on almost all of our trips to Namibia, there are some fantastic excursions in this area such as living desert tours, quad bike tours and scenic flights over the Skeleton coast, which officially starts at the mouth of the Swakup river. For the more adventurous there are kyak tours, sand dune boarding and even sky diving.
Very simply Swakopmund is a fantastic year round destination, it is slightly more temperate than other parts of the country and it does receive rain and weather effected by the Atlantic so our favourite time is the April – October period.
Swakopmund is a nice central stop when driving around Namibia, it is around 4 1/2 hours from the central area of the Namib-Naukluft National Park and around 5 1/2 from Damaraland. These distances and Namibia’s roads are what create a very easy and logical driving circuit in this amazing country.
There is so much to do in the Swakup area, one of our top activities in the country is the living desert tour that we use here as it provides a fantastic insight into the life in the wilderness. There is so much to do here that you may even struggle to fit it all in…
Top Swakopmund camps
Pelican Point Lodge
Walvis Bay, Namibia
Perfect for a really remote piece of land outside Walvis Bay, great for including in a truly off the beaten track fly-in safari.
The Stiltz
Swakopmund, Namibia
Perfect for a property on the outskirts of Swakopmund giving a peaceful retreat while only being a short distance from the attractions, restaurants and markets.
Strand Hotel
Swakopmund, Namibia
Perfect for if you have been out in the wilderness a little too long and feel like the familiarity of a larger hotel for a couple of nights before heading out to explore again.
Villa Margherita
Swakopmund, Namibia
Perfect for a small but lovely guesthouse/B&B property located in central Swakopmund making it great for exploring the town at your own pace.
Top Namibia itineraries
Classic Namibia Driving Itinerary
Classic Safari
Duration: 13 nights
Guide price: £3,280