How to spend a day in Swakopmund, Namibia's adventure capital

It’s not all adrenalin-charged action in Namibia’s adventure capital: this coastal city is fun to explore on foot, admiring German-style architecture and strolling the seaside promenade, all while squeezing in some fun activities and great food.

By Hannah Summers
Published 4 Feb 2021, 08:30 GMT
The colourful Hohenzollern Building, Swakopmund.

The colourful Hohenzollern Building, Swakopmund.

Photograph by Getty Images

8am Kayak with the seals

It’s an early start as you head 25 miles up the coast, driving past some of the world’s largest salt pans, to sea kayak to Pelican Point. Your companions are the Cape fur seal colony; hundreds of the playful creatures will splash around by your paddles as you do your best to take pictures. Book with Eco Marine Kayak Tours

1pm Fachwerk Biergarten

Grab a lunch-time beer with a side of pork knuckle, potato salad and sauerkraut at this Bavarian-style beerhouse, located in a building that dates back to 1889. It’s cosy inside but on a sunny day the small beer garden or front terrace is just the spot. 

2pm Swakopmund Museum

Located at the base of the lighthouse, this small museum on Strand Street takes you on a tour of Swakopmund’s intriguing history, from its period as a German colony to a run-through of its flora and fauna, via a reconstructed colonial home interior.

3pm Hit the beach

On a sunny day, locals and tourists gather on the golden sands of the city beach, paddling and people watching. Stick around for sunset or take a stroll along the jetty.

7pm Dinner at Brewer & Butcher

Grab a spot on the outside terrace of this relaxed restaurant and sports bar, which doubles as a brewery. The oysters are plucked from nearby Walvis Bay, and the Maggie burger is one of the best for miles. To drink? A flight of craft beers brewed on-site by Swakopmund Brewing Company.

10pm Sleep at The Slitz

This quirky guesthouse is made up of eight spacious and colourful thatch-roof bungalows, which sit on stilts with views over the Atlantic Ocean. Wake up in the morning to the surreal sight of camels grazing below you (there’s a camel farm nearby). While the views are wild and unspoilt, The Stiltz is still only a short walk from town.

Published in the March 2021 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)

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