The former a la Bavarian village in the paradise of African tabernacles appeared sometime on the initiative of Captain Kurt von Francois. Even now, Swakopmund managed to preserve the colonial atmosphere, aristocratic appearance and rich museum property, which attracts hunters to colorful comfortable rest of tourists. In addition to well-kept parks, fragrant parks and luxury hotels, the Namibian Riviera has also been glorified by hot mineral springs, now it is a popular balneological resort.
How to get
In Swakoppund, you can fly, using the airport in Windhoek or in Walvis Bay from anywhere in the world. However, in Swakopmund there is an airport located in the east of the city along the B2 highway, here you can fly either by charter flight or from Windhoek.
Since Swakompund is an intermediate station of TransNamiB lines in Walvis Bay from Windhoek and Tsumeb, you can take the train. The option from Tsumeb is not very convenient - you will arrive in Swakopmund at 2 am, but the train from Windhoek leaves at 19.55 every day and arrives at 5.20 am.
The car can be reached via the B2 motorway connecting Windhoek and Walvis Bay. The journey takes 4-5 hours. The distance to Walvis Bay is 35 km. Another C34 runs from Swakkumpund to the north along the coast and connects it to Hentisbei, Cape Cross, Skeleton Coast. Another route C28 leads to Swakoppund from Windhoek through the Nabib-Naukluft National Park.
Another way is a bus from Windhoek. Two operators will work: Intercape and Econolux. A taxi ride from Swakopmund to Walvis Bay costs about 40 N $.
On the water you can reach the port of Walvis Bay on a cruise liner.
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Climate
The average temperature ranges from +15 to +25 ° C. Precipitation does not practically drop out: a year they are less than 15 mm. In December - April, the water temperature rises to + 25 ... + 26 ° С.
Hotels
The former train station, built in 1901 on Bahnhof Street, has now grown from the light hand of the Disneyers to the most expensive hotel in the city. In addition, you can stay for a couple of nights at the Princess Rupprecht House, where now there is a cozy private pension.
Shopping and shopping
The main streets for walks are the beautiful promenade and Promenade, the central avenue of the city, Am Zoll Street, famous for the open natural market, and Sam Nujoma Street. Shopaholics are happy to get stuck in Woermann Brock Mall (Ankerplatz), a specialized shopping area. Another paradise for embezzlers is Brauhaus Arcade, on a street in German style.
Kitchen and restaurants
Most restaurants in the city flooded the embankment. The average cost of dinner ranges from 150 to 300 N $. The colorful restaurant The Tug, built in the hull of an ancient ship, is located on the beach at the end of the Promenade and is famous for its excellent fine cuisine. Another institution, erected on stilts, is next door, it's The Jetty 1905. Here they specialize in fish cuisine. A pretty accessible place is the Lighthouse restaurant. Interesting restaurants are located near the hotels, for example, the Europa restaurant at the Europa hotel and the Anton cafe at the Schweizerhaus hotel.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Swakopmund
The first thing to look at is the Swakopmund Museum, founded in 1951, where documents related to the city's history are exhibited, as well as exhibits of Namibian flora, a collection of rare minerals and the largest collection of bird eggs. Working hours of the museum: daily from 10.00 to 17.00. After that, the way lies in the Public Library, mainly to take a look at the unique collection of newspapers of the world, published from the beginning of 1898 to the present day.
The building of the former Tribunal is
Imbued with the colonial style of the building of the former Tribunal (Kaiserliches Bezirksgericht), which for a long period served as the summer residence of the Administrators of Namibia, and now it houses the summer residence of the president of the country. Despite this, the building can be visited from Monday to Thursday from 15:00 to 19:00 and from Friday to Saturday from 9:00 to 12:00.
Crystal Gallery
The crystal gallery, which hosts guests from 10.00 to 17.00, shows a huge amount of minerals and gems, including the world's largest crystal of quartz. By the way, mineral treasures can be purchased at two local stores. Entrance to the exhibition - 20 N $ per person.
City Aquarium
The city aquarium is an oval shaped glass tank 12 by 8 meters, and the tunnel inside gives an opportunity to see more closely the inhabitants of the ocean flora and fauna. The entrance costs 30 N $ per person.
- Touch the ancient 600-year-old rare trees Velvichia, growing in the vicinity of the city. Signs of distinction: short, not more than 5 cm thick trunk and 3-4-meter-long leaves streaking across the earth.
- Go to sea fishing in unique places created by a strip of dunes along the coast, which is best suited to Hentis Bay.
- To see the unforgettable lunar landscape during a night walk along the Swakop River valley.
- Break into a chic dress for a traditional Christmas ball or visit a beer festival, both festivals take place in December - January, another bright carnival opens its arms in August.
- To test the largest in South Africa water slides descending into a huge indoor pool.
- Devote a half-day rest to extreme entertainment, which is not common in the world - sandboarding (Sandboarding or Duneboarding). This is a special way to get down from the dunes: on a snowboard or lying facing forward on a piece of hardboard.
- Ride on a catamaran in Walvis Bay, during this walk you can feed seals, pelicans, see dolphins. Departure from the Walvis Bay yacht club, the duration of the walk is from 8.00 to 13.00.
Surroundings of Swakopmund
If you drive 70 kilometers east of Swakopmund, you get to the legendary Rössing Mine, which is the world's largest uranium mine. By the way, in the city museum one of the expositions tells in detail and colorfully about the world's largest mine for open uranium mining.
Between the city and the neighboring Walvis Bay on the Atlantic coast you can see a unique beauty of nature - the colony of pink flamingos. You can also take a fascinating journey through the famous Skeleton Coast, admire the fur seal rookeries, oysters and ostrich farms.
Country dunes are a great place for those who like active recreation. Here they drive in jeeps, four-wheeled motorcycles. Dune number seven in the vicinity of Walvis Bay is striking in its beauty and scale. Here you can arrange an excellent picnic. At the foot of the town of Hentis Bay, Cape Crosse cape was chosen by the local slopes of Cape Seals. This is one of the largest colonies of these animals in Africa, so the zone is reserved. Tourists are allowed access.
Especially colorful among the bare stones is an oasis of Goianikontes, where among lush palms and emerald eucalypts, it is ideal to relax by having a picnic.
Photo of Swakopmund (4)