Sightseeing in Swakopmund

Sunsets

This might not conventionally be considered sightseeing, but you don’t want to miss that ball of fire diving into the Atlantic Ocean. With the silhouettes of some dolphins jumping into the picture it’s almost a bit cheesy. Got to one of the seaside restaurants for sundowners or just grab a beer and get comfortable on the beach.

Kristall Galerie

The Kristall Galerie is home to the world’s largest crystal cluster. There are lots of other gems and minerals on display with a cave and a scratch patch for the kids to explore. You won’t miss this building on Bahnhof St as the architecture is a sight in itself.

Scenic Flights and Ballooning

One of the best ways to experience the breath-taking beauty of the Namibian coastal landscape is from the sky. Get a different perspective on the vibrant colours of the salt pans, the contrast of the rusty orange sand meeting the deep blue Atlantic and even the majestic mountains in Damaraland.

If you want to go a bit further go by plane, whereas a balloon will give you a more tranquil vibe as you gaze at the scenery. We’ll excuse you while you kiss the sky.

Colonial Architecture

Traces of the German colonial rule are everywhere in Swakopmund. Watch German pensioners walking around town marvelling at buildings their ancestors erected only a 100 years ago and it becomes apparent that the many German visitors of this coastal town made the transition from colonialism to tourism in a very short amount of time.

As most of the buildings are still in a remarkably good shape it is still worth taking an afternoon off to wallow in the historic ambiance. The most prominent features are the Woermannhaus, the Alte Gefängnis, the train station and the Lutheran church. Get a map from the tourist information and you’ll easily find your way around.

A bit more off the beaten track is the cemetery (ironically placed right next to an old-age home). Find some of the colonial graves and appreciate the surreal setting among with the sand dunes in the background.

Martin Luther

What’s a steam locomotive doing in the desert? And why is it named named after a religious reformer? The steam-driven locomotive was imported from Germany along with the engineer who carried the secret of its functionality. However the engineer left at the outbreak of the Nama-Herero and took the secret with him. When the locals finally got the thing running, it struck them that a steam engine uses a fair amount of water, generally not a popular property in the desert. Hence Luther’s words “Here I stand. May God help me , I cannot do otherwise” became applicable to the locomotive and so they are namesakes.