Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a quirky coastal town where you can enjoy excellent seafood, beach walks, excursions to the wetlands or adrenalin activities galore.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Year-round

  1. Home /
  2. Namibia /
  3. Swakopmund /

Overview

The seaside town of Swakopmund lies between Sossusvlei to the south and Damaraland to the north. This pleasant town on the Atlantic coast has a distinctive continental atmosphere. Its many picturesque reminders of the German colonial era seem deliciously incongruous so close to the Namib Desert! But Swakopmund, with its palm-lined streets, provides a welcome rest from travelling. Here you can stroll along the beach, enjoy some good seafood and visit some quirky museums.

Woermann House in Swakopmund

Woermann House in Swakopmund in Western NamibiaWe recommend at least 2 to 3 nights here so that you can take a rest from driving and dusty roads.  Plus there is plenty to see from boat cruises to canoeing amongst the penguins. And from the eery Moon landscape to the dunes of the Namib. See some of the many excursions below. You can also now take helicopter flights over the Namib Desert to see the dunes from the air.

Back to main Namibia safari page.

READ MOREREAD LESS

Features

Why you may love it

  • Enjoy beach strolls at sunset
  • Great seafood restaurants
  • Explore the Moon valley with its unique welwitschia plants, hundreds of years old
  • Drive up the coast to Cape Cross seal colony
  • Boat cruises in search of whales and dolphins in season
  • Gentle kayaking on Walvis lagoon with its stunning birdlife
  • 4×4 nature drives to Sandwich lagoon to the see the flamingos
  • Swakopmund has also become a centre for adrenalin sports. Choose between sand-boarding, quad-biking or even tandem sky-diving, all of which are open to complete novices

When to visit Swakopmund

 

December to April

Summer

The west coast of the country, from the Skeleton Coast down to Luderitz have a completely different climatic pattern from the rest of Namibia. Here there is hardly any rain in the summer months! The days are mostly dry and sunny, but on the cool side as the cold sea winds bring down the temperatures. Inland, or on windless days, the temperatures rises. This is considered the best time to visit as it is a little warmer and the morning fog is not as heavy.
TALK TO US
AVG MONTHLY RAINFALL 0MM
MAX TEMP 21 ℃ / 70 ℉
MIN TEMP 15 ℃ / 59 ℉
 

May to September

Winter

The winter season begins with a gradual lowering of temperatures. Mornings continue to be foggy especially at the coast, but the sun burns through the fog to bring sunny blue skies later in the day. These are cooler months with cold nights and days of approx. 18-20C.
TALK TO US
AVG MONTHLY RAINFALL 2MM
MAX TEMP 17 ℃ / 63 ℉
MIN TEMP 10 ℃ / 50 ℉
 

October to mid-December

Transitional season

Curiously day-time temperatures don’t increase as quickly here as elsewhere in Namibia. It continues to be dry and sunny but the continuing morning fog and cold sea winds keep the daytime temperatures down on the coast. However the evening temperatures warm up to 13-14C.
TALK TO US
AVG MONTHLY RAINFALL 1MM
MAX TEMP 18 ℃ / 64 ℉
MIN TEMP 13 ℃ / 55 ℉

Popular tours & safaris

We arrange trips to more than 100+ destinations throughout the African continent.

Card image cap

Cape to Namibia Self-drive

This three week self drive holiday visits some of the scenic highlights along the West Coast of South Africa and then takes you through Namibia up to Etosha National park to end in Windhoek.

WHEN Mar - Nov
DURATION 19 Nights
FROM ₤ 2,428
Card image cap

Namibian Discovery Self-drive

This shorter self-drive tour, using premier accommodation, is ideal for the first time visitor to Namibia who may want to combine Namibia with either Cape Town or a safari Botswana. It is...

WHEN Mar - Nov
DURATION 12 Nights
FROM ₤ 1,644
Card image cap

Namibian Adventure self-drive

This luxury self-drive tour combines general touring of Namibia with a superb safari experience, and is ideal for the first time visitor. Highlights include Etosha National Park, Damaraland,...

WHEN Mar - Nov
DURATION 14 Nights
FROM ₤ 2,947
Card image cap

Namibia in a Nutshell Safari

This 10 night safari is ideal for those who don't have much time yet and want to see most of the highlights of this vast desert country. The scenic flights between the lodges are very much part...

WHEN Mar - Nov
DURATION 9 Nights
FROM ₤ 4,694
Card image cap

Ultimate Namibia Safari

Namibia is a large country so you need to allow plenty of time – with this 10 day Ultimate Namibia Safari it gives you the chance to experience this magnificent and memorable country in a...

WHEN Mar - Nov
DURATION 9 Nights
FROM ₤ 3,877
Card image cap

Namibia Under Canvas Safari

Namibia is a vast country, so this 9 night scheduled safari gives you the chance to experience this magnificent country. The Namibia Under Canvas Safari is designed to offer a true “back to...

WHEN Apr - Oct
DURATION 9 Nights
FROM ₤ 3,544

Start planning your dream trip

Find me the best in for

Need a little help? View our Safari Guide to help you get started

Accommodation

Card image cap
Swakopmund

Swakopmund Guesthouse

Swakopmund Guest House is an upmarket guest lodge a mere 5 minute walk from the beach & shopping area of Swakopmund. It offers 4 standard rooms, 7 luxury rooms and 1 family suite for guests...

PRICE (PPS) ₤ 28
Card image cap
Swakopmund

Cornerstone Guest House

Cornerstone offers the charm and intimacy of a family-run guest house combined with the modern amenities of a boutique hotel. Within a few minutes from the guest house you can walk to beaches,...

PRICE (PPS) ₤ 49
RATING Comfortable
Card image cap
Swakopmund

Villa Marguerita

Villa Margherita is a small luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Swakopmund consisting of four stylish buildings which are all located close to each other on the same premises.

PRICE (PPS) ₤ 51
RATING Premier
Card image cap
Swakopmund

Strand Hotel Swakopmund

The Strand Hotel Swakopmund is located directly on the mole (promenade) in Swakopmund, surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, with direct access to the main beach in town. On the fourth...

RATING Luxury
Card image cap
Swakopmund

The Delight Swakopmund

Amongst the town’s captivating contrasts and old traditions, The Delight in Swakopmund is a fresh breeze in the desert. Conveniently located within short walking distance of the ‘Mole’, this...

PRICE (PPS) ₤ 66
RATING Premier
Card image cap
Swakopmund

Brigadoon Guesthouse

Brigadoon Guesthouse has a prime location within Swakopmund. Swakopmund’s main beach is only 200 metres away, and the town centre with its many attractions can be reached on foot within a very...

PRICE (PPS) ₤ 32
RATING Comfortable
View More Accommodations

Download our Insiders Guide to Namibia Safaris

Major Game Reserves, Sample Tours & Camps, plus the low-down on Best Time to Visit! Get our Free Guide here
 

Natasha Jantjies

Africa Travel Specialist

Hi I'm Natasha, I'm here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience
LET'S PLAN YOUR ULTIMATE SAFARI

Experiences in Swakopmund

Card image cap

Helicopter flights over Namib Desert

The ideal way to capture the beauty of the Namib Desert - amongst other options - is with a scenic helicopter flight over this breath-taking vast expanse of desert. From your birds-eye...

Card image cap

Living Desert Tour from Swakopmund

The living desert tour is focused on examining the smaller creatures of the desert. You experience the unexpected life in the dunes up close with a conservation-minded approach. Morning tour from...

Card image cap

Boat cruises from Walvis Bay or Lüderitz

This is a great options after driving the Namibian gravel roads. Several yacht charter companies in the Swakopmund/Walvis Bay area, and one in Luderitz, offer catamaran cruises on the Atlantic...

Card image cap

Kayaking on Walvis Lagoon

Great excursion from Walvis Bay accessed via a good 30km tarred road from Swakopmund. You head to Pelican Point for some kayaking with a seal colony and – if you are lucky – even dolphins! On...

Card image cap

Sandwich Lagoon 4x4 excursion

The Sandwich 4x4 excursion is a unique and exhilarating 4x4 seriously off road trip to visit Sandwich harbour and the lagoon (tides permitting). Breath-taking panoramic views of the picturesque...

View More Experiences
Did you know
  • EstablishedFounded in 1892 as the main harbour for the Imperial German colony
  • First EuropeansThe first 160 people had to dig caves into the sand for shelter

Swakopmund Articles

Card image cap

Tips for Family Safaris - Teenagers & Older Kids

Family Safaris are best with children of seven or so. By this age, the safari planning questions become easier to answer. If a lodge takes children under 12 then they’re allowed to go on the...

Card image cap

Namibia Family Safari Ideas

Going to Namibia with the Family. . . When people think of Family Safaris, Namibia is perhaps not the first country that springs to mind, mainly because of the long distances involved. But if your...

Card image cap

Adventurous Self-drive safari routes in South Africa & Namibia

Adventurous Self Drive – bringing out your inner Camel Man… We’ve being offering self-drive safari tours in Namibia and South Africa for over 25 years, so we’ve planned plenty of more...

Load More Articles

Book with confidence

 
ABTA logo
Zicasso Logo
Aito assurred logo
SATSA logo

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Start planning

How it works

 
Cedarberg talk-to-us
Chat with us about your perfect itinerary
Cedarberg curate
We listen, discuss and curate your ideal experience
Cedarberg pack
You pack and enjoy your holiday

Milandi Joubert

Africa Travel Specialist

Hi I’m Milandi, I’m here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience
LET’S PLAN YOUR ULTIMATE SAFARI

Subscribe to our newsletter

Keen to get some more useful info about planning a dream safari? Enter your name and email below

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.