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The mouth of the Swakop River forms a lagoon and the adjoining reeds and bushes create a habitat that makes for exciting bird watching. The old concrete pillars of the washed away railway bridge serve as a roosting place for cormorants. The sewage works are always good for birding and are situated in the town and permission for access can be obtained from the Town Engineer’s office in the Altes Amtsgericht.
Known by the locals as Swakkies, Swakopmund is much loved by Namibians because it offers a cooler atmosphere than the hot interior. It is equally popular to visitors because of its old world charm and relaxed atmosphere.
Typical German cakes and confectionery can be enjoyed in the town’s cafes, while the shops are stocked with a mouth-watering selection of cold meats.
Well-known historic buildings include Woermann House, the old State Railway Station, Alte Kaserne (Old Fort) and the old Magistrate’s Court which now serves as State House in Swakopmund.
Swakopmund was founded in 1892 during German colonial rule, it served as the territory’s main harbour for many years.
This desert town, hedged by the desert and the sea is enhanced by green lawns, palm trees and beautifully tended public gardens. The coast with its desert hinterland offers many options, both for adventure and for relaxation.
Just before reaching Swakopmund from the intererior, enclosed in a small glass-fronted structure, visitors can view the Martin Luther ‘steam-ox’ imported from Germany in 1896 to transport goods between the town and other settlements.
When the steam tractor became irretrievably bogged down in the sand, it was dubbed Martin Luther, because of Luther’s historic statement in 1521:
“Here I stand, may God help me, I can go no further”.
A few years ago it was removed for reconstruction and in March 2007 was placed back at its original post. The venue was given an overall facelift. The site now has a museum, toilet facilities and a number of curio stalls.
Quaint architecture from bygone era adds to the time-out-of-place atmosphere of Swakopmund. Much of the distinct German colonial character has been preserved and today many of the town’s old buildings house shops, offices and other utility services.
Getting your way around Swakopmund
Woermann House, built in 1905 to accommodate the Damara and Namaqua Trading Company and sold in 1909 to Woermann & Brock, houses the Swakopmund Arts Association and the Public Library.
The Woermann Tower, which can be viewed at specified times, affords a panoramic view of desert and sea. It has a platform from which, in earlier times, a flag was flown whenever a ship of the Woermann Line was sighted.
The old barrack, known as Die Alte Kaserne (1905), was built by German colonial government to house the German Engineer Regiment responsible for the construction of the jetty and the railway line to the interior. It is now a youth hostel based on the concept of the International Youth Hostel Federation.
The privately owned Hohenzollern-Haus (1905), embellished by a frieze of angels and lions and originally built to accommodate visiting aristocracy from Germany, at one time functioned as a house for ill repute.
Today this striking building serves as an apartment house, while the Prinzessin Ruprecht Heim, built in 1902 to operate as a hospital, is now a pension.
The Kaiserliches Bezirksgericht (magistrate’s court), the building which has served as a summer residence for the President of Namibia since independence, was built in 1901.
Next to it are the gardens of the Marine Memorial, commemorating marines who died in the 1904/5 Herero uprising. Resembling a Bavarian villa with its ornamental exterior, the Swakopmund Jail is often mistaken by visitors for a hotel.
One of the town’s most prominent landmarks, the Swakopmund Lighthouse, was completed in 1903, together with the harbour beakwater known as The Mole, today the southern boundary of Swakopmund’s main tourist beach.
Other interesting and recreational places in Swakopmund are the aquarium, Art galleries & craft outlets.
The Welwitschia Drive
A self-guided drive starting and ending in Swakopmund, provides a fascinating insight into the desert environment. There are also two day walks in this section of the park and several campsite with basic facilities.
Most of the area is accessible by sedan cars. The National West Coast Recreation Area attract thousands of hopeful anglers each year to angling spots with quaint names like Sara se Gat (Sarah’s Hole), Bennie se Rooi Lorrie (Bennie’s Red Truck) and Jakkalsputz (Jackals’ Well).
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