Swakopmund sits where the Namib Desert meets the cold Atlantic, a small coastal town with a distinctive character of its own and a popular break between desert and safari legs of a Namibian itinerary. It is often cooler and foggier than the desert interior, a refreshing contrast after the heat and aridity inland, and serves as the base for the region's coastal and adventure activities.
Nearby Walvis Bay and Pelican Point offer boat-based marine excursions to see Cape fur seals, dolphins and sometimes whales, while the surrounding dune belt is used for quad-biking, sandboarding and scenic desert drives. Cape Cross Seal Reserve, a short drive north, holds one of the largest Cape fur seal colonies in the world.
Camps & lodges on the Atlantic Coast
Pelican Point Lodge
Pelican Point Peninsula, Walvis BayOccupies the tip of the Pelican Point Peninsula in a former harbour control building beside the lighthouse, reached by an escorted 4x4 crossing.
The Stiltz
Between town centre and the Atlantic, SwakopmundAn architecture-led boutique lodge of raised wooden bungalows suspended on stilts between the dunes and the Atlantic.
Strand Hotel Swakopmund
The Mole, SwakopmundSurrounded by the Atlantic on three sides, the flagship full-service hotel at The Mole.
Beach Hotel Swakopmund
SwakopmundA modern four-floor beachfront hotel, part of the Swakopmund Collection group of properties.
Six landscapes, one extraordinary desert country.
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Namibia overview