Swakopmund

Swakopmund Overview

On the west coast of Namibia, Swakopmund is a coastal town nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Namib Desert.

The destination offers a wide variety of fun sightseeing activities:

• Quad biking in the dunes
• Scenic Boat cruise
• Scenic flights over skeleton coast or Sossusvlei dunes
• Paragliding over the dunes
• Sunrise or sunset balloon ride over the desert
• Angling for shark and fish

The Swakopmund Museum is home to exhibits displaying panoramas of the desert and sea life, a variety of historical collections as well as an exhibit of the largest open pit uranium mine in the world.

An early morning visit to the Swakopmund Saltworks is a perfect excursion for avifauna enthusiasts. Resident avocets, chestnut-banded plovers, oyster catchers, Cape teals, Cape shovellers, grey heron and black-winged stilts, pelicans and cormorants can be seen in the still of the morning, as well as a horde of migrant birds like whimbrel, turnstones, little stint, knot, ringed plover, sanderling and bar-tailed godwit.

Highlights & Places in Swakopmund

Flanked by both sea and stretching dunes, Swakopmund is the perfect destination to enjoy a wide variety of great outdoor adventure activities.

If you enjoy activities that give you a ‘view from the top’, there is skydiving, paragliding, scenic flights and sunrise or sunset hot air balloon rides.

If you prefer a more ‘down to earth’ adventure, sandboarding or quadbiking is up for offer.

For a more relaxing Swakopmund experience you can catch fish from the beach, visit Swakopmund Saltworks or enjoy a tour of the town’s cultural buildings.

Best Time to Visit Swakopmund

When to Go

The best time to visit Swakopmund is between November and April. The resort is a seaside town, making it cooler than Namibian inland destinations in the summer time.

Getting There & Getting Around

Getting To Swakopmund

To get to Swakopmund you can take an Intercape Mainliner bus from Cape Town (SA) or Johannesburg (SA), travelling via Windhoek. The bus trip is available on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Getting Around Swakopmund

Once in Swakopmund, the best way to get around is by hired car.

Swakopmund Tips : Know Before You Go

ATMs:
There are a number of ATMs available in Swakopmund.

Forex/Money:
Travellers cheques are accepted widely in the area and can be exchanged at any of the local banks.

Credit/Debit cards:
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in most stores in Swakopmund.

Internet availability:
Internet cafés are available in Swakopmund and activity booking offices also offer an internet service.

Drinking water:
It is safe to drink water from the tap, however the taste isn’t great.

Hospitals & Medical:
There is a public hospital in Swakopmund that provides a high quality healthcare service.

Visa Requirements:
You don’t need a visa to enter Namibia, but you will need a valid passport.

Swakopmund Map