From Sossusvlei, we fly by light aircraft to Swakopmund. We took the scenic route passing by Deadvlei, and then heading up the Skeleton Coast passing by numerous ship wrecks and seal colonies. Swakopmund is a city on the western coast of Namibia. It is a charming seaside town heavily influenced by German colonial architecture and culture. It served as the main harbor for the Imperial German colony at the time. Surrounded by the Namib Desert and the Atlantic, Swakopmund is ofter enveloped in fog that originates offshore when the cold Atlantic air collides with the warm desert air. This fog provides a vital source of moisture for the desert even though it causes many ship wrecks along the Skeleton Coast. We stayed at the Strand Hotel for our short visit.
The purpose of coming here was to see Sandwich Harbour, part of the Namib Naukluft Park, where the giant sand dunes run straight into the Atlantic Ocean. I find it mind-boggling that the arid desert can exist right next to the ocean. We went by 4×4 up and down the giant dunes that cascade into the ocean. There is a lagoon here between the ocean and the dunes teaming with flamingoes and pelicans. It is such a wildly beautiful place.
We came across a jackal who found a pair of geckos. Our guide interfered with nature and quickly scooped up the pair and we drove away with them and set them free down the beach. Hopefully the jackal didn’t find them later on…
Swakopmund is a small town and most of the town’s attractions are easily explored on foot. There are quite a few historical buildings dating back to the colonial times. The Woermann Haus and Tower is a great place for views of the town, the ocean, and the desert.
There is not very much to do here in Swakopmund, but visiting Sandwich Harbor and seeing the dunes meet the Atlantic is worth the stop.
Next up is Serra Cafema Lodge in the Kunene region up the Skeleton Coast near Angola. This is where I visited the Himba tribes and is definitely the highlight of my visit to Namibia. Stay tuned!
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