From Wikitravel

Swakopmund, known as Swakop in Namibia is the country's biggest coastal town and a mecca for Namibians on holiday. The city's German origins are quite pronounced in beautiful old German Colonial buildings throughout the city, making an even starker contrast for this town sitting at the edge of the Namib Desert.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By car 1.2 By plane 1.3 By Bus 1.4 By train 1.5 By ship 2 Get around 3 Do 4 Buy 5 Sleep 5.1 Backpackers 5.2 Upmarket 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Get out

Get in

By car

The best way to get to Swakopmund is by road from Windhoek. The B2 is the main road from Windhoek, and takes 4-5 hours by car. Minibusses operate from Windhoek almost every 2-3 hours, ask the taxi drivers where the busses leave. For about N$60 you can have a ride in quite overloaded minibusses, take about 4-6 hours. Pay immedeatly and try to get yourself a seat next to the driver (much more space).

By plane

• Air Namibia [1] A number of flights are offered by Air Namibia. Flights to Cape Town in South Africa are also available.
• South African Airways [2] They operate flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town. They only operate at Walvis Bay's airport, about 70km away.

By Bus

Although the Mini Buses are slightly cheaper and are an experience, they have no fixed time schedule and are often overloaded. So checkout these operators

• Intercape [3] They operate in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Well Priced and reliable.
• Econolux Tel +264 64 205935.

By train

The train service to Windhoek will take up to 21 and a half hours.

By ship

The RMS St Helena makes regular round-trips from St Helena Island to Cape Town via Walvis Bay. Catch a taxi from Walvis Bay to Swakopmund.

Get around

As with other Namibian cities, there is no public transport in Swakopmund. But the city is small enough to get around easily on foot. All the major attractions and facilities are downtown. It´s hard to get a taxi in city centre, but once you get one it takes you wherever you want for the same rate as the Windhoek Taxis. A trip to Walvis Bay shouldn´t be more than N$40.

Do

Swakopmund is Namibia's adventure capital.

• Sandboarding You can ski the dunes just like you're snowboarding, or ride the board on your belly. Extremely high speeds.
• Quad-biking This is an excellent way to see the Namib desert close up. Several tour companies offer lessons and guided tours on four-wheel motorbikes through the desert surrounding the city. Breathtaking views of the dunes and the Atlantic Ocean.
• Skydiving Learn to jump from concerned, compassionate professionals in one of the cheapest, best skydiving schools on earth.
• Educate Yourself Swakopmund has one of the best libraries in Africa.
• Party Swakop has an unusual number of skilled rock musicians and an impromptu "Open Mike Night" can usually be organized at one of the local nightspots. Travelling musicians take note!
• Okakambe Trails, Horse Rides About 8km outside Swakop. Tel +264 64 402799
• Camel Safaris About 8km outside Swakop. Tel +264 64 400363
• Aquarium Pay a visit to the aquarium.
• Hotair ballooning & Microlight Flights There are few better ways to see the Namib Desert.

Buy

There are several nice shops in Swakop selling souvenirs and art. There is also a very good craft market near the lighthouse, which has a lot of items which are difficult to find elsewhere in Namibia.

Sleep

Backpackers

• Desert Sky Backpackers Lodge, 35 Lazaret St. (at the corner of Breit St.), +264 64 402339, [4]. Five minute walk from downtown and the beach; clean, friendly owner; Internet access; and camping area. $N40 camping, $N50/person for a dorm, $N140 for a double room.
• Alternative Space, 167 Lazaret St. At the edge of town. The hostel is a unique facility, decorated throughout with Namibian art. $N175 double room, $N225 triple room.
• Villa Wiese Backpackers, +264 64 407105, [villawiese@compuscan.co.za]. Another great backpapckers. Plus they have their own bar.

Upmarket

• Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre is a 4 star luxury hotel, built in and around the impeccably restored old station building. Includes casino, pool and restaurant. From $N940 per Room, incl. breakfast
• The Stiltz [5], luxurious with a very romatic setting.

Eat

• The Tug - great seafood reasturant. It is an actual tug with a great view of the sea - reservations are essential.
• Light House Pub, Try the calamari and seafood dishes, Serves pub meals and resturant. Located at the Mole.
• Cape To Cario Excellent african themed restaurant.
• Out of Africa Get your coffee and cake here.
• Cafe Anton Great for an all-you-can-eat Breakfast. Around N$60.

Drink

This is Jagermeister country and don't forget to sample the famous, locally brewed Hansa Draught.

• Tiger Reef - beach bar, excellent place for a sundowner on the beach. Go to the aquaruim and walk along the beach in the direction of Walvis Bay.
• Grunerkrantz Located above Cape to Cairo. This is where everyone comes for their late night drink.
• Rafters, great sports bar with big LCD screens.

Get out

• Swakopmund is a good starting point for trips up the Skeleton Coast. A good day-trip would be south from Swakop to Walvis Bay, Namibia's port town. The road to Walvis Bay provides good views of the Namib dunes meeting the Atlantic.

• 120 km north of Swakopmund lies Cape Cross, where every October to December about 100,000 of the Cape Fur Seals breed. The sight and the noise (and also the smell...) is absolutely breathtaking! The name Cape Cross comes from a stone cross erected 1486 by the Portuguese Diego Cáo. Entry fee to the nature reserve is 10 N$. Accommodation at the Cape Cross Lodge [6].
• For hobby botanists a half day trip to the south east will take you to the legendary Welwitschia mirabilis plants. In a place where there is no rain for decades the only water source this plant uses is humidity. Welwitschia can become over 1000 years old and only live in this part of the Namib desert, 40 to 120 km away from the coast. Take the welwitschia drive that starts 50 km east of Swakopmund. Be careful not to walk too close to the plants (roots easily destroyed) or even take plants with you, the species is highly endangered!!!

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