Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a clean, atmospheric little beach town right on the Skeleton Coast. It has all the usual amenities – airport, restaurants, shops, good guesthouses, hotels and self-catering options. Coastal fog and cool breezes offer pleasant conditions in contrast to the extreme inland temperatures.

Namibia was a German colony, and Swakopmund in particular still retains its Teutonic essence. Along with old European-style buildings, you'll find lots of German restaurants, coffee shops and pubs. Traditional German-Namibian-style food or Oryx steak washed down with great beer is the order of the day. True to their German heritage, Namibia makes the best beer in Africa – conforming to the German Reinheidsgebod. The outcome is Swakopmund’s unique charm – in the midst of a wild African desert rises a European village.

This lovely coastal community not only prides itself in neat palm-lined streets and colonial heritage – they eagerly offer a wide variety of activities. Large sand dunes south of Swakopmund beckon exploration and provide awesome sandboarding, dune carting and quad biking.

Along the coast there are fabulous boat cruises to spot dolphins and see the rich marine life. The surfing, deep-sea diving and fishing are great. Just a hop and a skip away are Sandwich Harbour and Walvis Bay. If you really want to go wild, get airborne over the Skeleton Coast in a hot air balloon, microlight or join a camel safari.