30 Things To Do In Swakopmund

Note, this post is now a bit out of date. For more information about Swakopmund and elsewhere in Namibia you can view our website frantic-naturalist.com and contact us from there.

In response to a question about things to do in Swakopmund, here are 30 things to do in Swakopmund with a heavy dose of my opinion.

Swakopmund and the coast have become Namibia's adventure towns, and there are a number of activities available. It is a strange town, of some 40000 people, one of the very few towns along Namibia's entire, huge coastline. Often foggy, it is popular with locals in summer to escape the heat of the interior.

1. Skydiving - Ground Rush Adventures offers one of the most active skydiving clubs in the southern hemisphere. Most people do tandem jumps, but you can also do a static line jump. I did two static line jumps (in 1998...a while back now) and to me it was much better than bungee jumping (Which I did at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe earlier that year).

2. Quad Bikes - Desert Adventures is one of the most experienced companies running Quad bike trips at the coast. I personally hate quad Bikes with a deep passion...but it is very popular in Swakopmund.

3. Sand-boarding - I know people. If you want to do sand-boarding, I can organize it for you. There are two forms usually (I may be out of data...the only sand-boarding I do is with my boys...slowly) but basically, there is lie down and stand up. Lie down requires no skill and you go fast. Since you only go as many times are you are willing to walk up the dunes, you want to make the best of the runs you get (or get really fit.) Stand up takes skill. My one day of doing it, I just fell down the whole day. I am tall and lanky, and my fitness far beats my co-ords, so lie down works much better for me. But, if you have done snow-boarding, you may find the stand-up easy.

4. Birding - This I have covered well already in this blog and elsewhere. If you are planning to visit Namibia and going birding anywhere, you should contact me anyway. I only know a few people, but I know the people who really know the people... No, jokes aside, the coast has some interesting birding. The best operators with regards to birding are Turnstone tours and SafariWise Namibia.

5. Walvis Bay Boat trips - There are a number of operators doing boat trips on the Walvis Bay Lagoon. I believe that at the moment Mola Mola has the most informative guides and most interesting trips. It is usually a morning trip out, and includes some snacks, oysters and Champaign. Dress in layers and put on sunscreen and hats even on a foggy day. On most of the trips the boat captains let a Cape Fur Seal jump on board the boat, which isn't the greatest thing, but I guess it's interesting. You see Dolphins on most trips. I recently saw my first Mola Mola, an Ocean Sunfish. It is rather strange. People have seen Whales, though I never have. In winter there are large populations of flamingos and in summer, waders, on the lagoon. The Walvis Bay Lagoon has been declared a Ramsar Site.

6. Cape Cross Tour - most tour operators run trips to Cape Cross. Cape Cross is the site where Portuguese explorer Diego Cao erected a stone cross in 1486 in honor of King Johannes of Portugal. Today the crosses standing at the site are replicas of the original cross. The site is most interesting due to the number of Cape Fur Seals there. At their peak there are nearly 200 000 Cape Fur Seals in the area. There is a great deal of international pressure on Namibia to stop a cull of the Cape Fur Seals, but to date the government hasn't taken much notice. Regardless of the politics, it's a very interesting place to visit. One thing to be aware of...Cape Fur Seal colonies STINK. If you visit you can get away from the smell and have a nice lunch (depending on the state of your stomach) at the Cape Cross Lodge.

Cape Cross is rather far out of town, and it is possible to visit the area on your way to or from Swakopmund if you are heading north of the town along the Skeleton Coast road.

7. Fishing - There are a number of operators who run fishing tours. I don't know to much about it...I can't imagine anything worse than sitting out in the cold wind, getting sunburned and then pulling out large, wet fish. But, if it's your cup of tea, there are a number of operators. Here is a link to get you started.

8. Swakopmund Museum - A very interesting museum near the lighthouse area in Swakopmund. Here is a link to some info about it...just beware...the website is a bit pink!

9. Golf - Swakopmund is in a hyper arid area, but there is a full golf course called Rossumund Golf Course. Again, I am not a golf player so can't give you to much insight into the Golf, but it's there, people like it and if it's your thing, go play golf. Just don't hit any of Swakopmund's only Springbok.

10. Swakop River Tour - You should do this trip with Charlie's Desert Tours, they started it like a hundred years ago or something. It is a very, very interesting day tour. The trip takes most of the day. Oh, just so you don't miss understand, the Swakop River tour is done in a 4x4, not a boat, and the river is a place with sand where water sometimes (but rarely) flows.

11. On Fridays you can go to the Rossing Mine if you want to find out more about Namibia's growing Uranium mining industry.

12. For the naturalist, one of the best tours is the Living Desert's tour, run by Tommy. He finds all the small creatures of the desert for you, and shares it with passion and knowledge. I have never done the trip, but people really enjoy it. Here is a video.

13. A tour to Sandwich Harbour is perhaps one of the most interesting things you can do in Swakopmund, Walvis bay area. You are out the whole day for this trip, but it is really worth it. I did a few trips for them to Sandwich Harbour last year.

14. A very interesting trip is to go into the township and visit people there. Township tours are done by Mondesa Township Tours

15. Or, if you are interested in the people living outside of the towns, there are the Topnaar people living on the Kuiseb River. I don't know exactly what tour operator is best for doing this trip, but I can find out. With any 'people' oriented tours, one wants to do it with sensitivity to the people.

16. If you want to part with lots of bucks, you could do a helicopter trip.

17. You can do scenic flights out of Swakopmund, and trust me, it is amazing to fly over the Namib Sand Sea and over Sossusvlei. There are a number of operators doing these flights out of Swakopmund, but I recommend using Scenic Air.

18. You can also do a Balloon Flight. I have never done it (in this area) and can't comment on how good it would be.

19. Shopping - well, my father-in-law has some good links on his website, Swakop.com. Buy gems, Karakul carpets, buy some property, get a haircut at Zeppelins, buy leather goods, beads, curios, safari cloths, ice cream. Don't phone me about shopping...I do my best not to go shopping. Perhaps optics...oh, yes, you can get your camera fixed (like if you got to much sand in it while down at Sossusvlei) or buy a new one (if you dropped it from your 4x4 in Palmwag). Rent cars.

20. Visit the Snake Park in Swakopmund. It's in the main street. If you can't find it, ask someone. Or Tweet me and I'll help you find it. It is interesting. Have you ever seen a real live Black Mamba?

21. Places to eat diner: Popular: The Tug (Sea food), The Lighthouse (more family oriented), Kucki's Pub, Eric's (more German). My favorite: The Grapevine (nice if you like wine) and The Wreck (a little fancy, nice setting, out of center town). If you just want to grab a pizza, the best is at Western Saloon.

22. Where to have sundowners - Tiger Reef Bar (dress warm)

23. Where to have lunch - The Light Keeper's Cottage Tea Garden...just look for the lighthouse.

24. Breakfast - At the Village Café or Café Treff. Mid-morning, have some cake at the famous Café Anton.

25. Need to blog/tweet/email, visit the Swakop icafe.

26. Scare yourself silly at the 'Flying Fox'. This is the cable slide on the top of Rossing Mountain. It is said to be the world's longest (1100 m) and highest (200 m) cable slide. It's done by the same people that runs the ballooning in Swakopmund. 
27. Where to stay: Lots of places, Big hotel: Swakopmund Hotel, Historic Hotel: Hansa Hotel, really cheap: Swakopmund Municipal Bungalows, Out of center town (and perhaps my favourite): Beach Lodge, newer and nice: The Stilz. There are lots of places...Sam's Giardino, you can stay at Rossmund Lodge at the golf course (mentioned above), you can camp if you like (don't), there are many guest houses. There are even many people who provide accommodation at their houses.

30. Did you bump an elephant in Damaraland, or get malaria in the Caprivi - you can visit the Cottage Hospital. You think that's a funny link, well some time back a tourist in the area had a baby there...mom's name was Angelina Jolie. More importantly, we also had our baby there in 2007. I guess it's unlikely that you will have your baby there, but it's possible???

For more info about the coast and it's environment - visit Nacoma's website.

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Birding Namibia's central coastal region - Some background

I have noticed a lot of new visitors on my blog. I thought I will just give a brief background to birding in this area, Namibia's central coast.

First, why am I a bird guide in Namibia's central coastal area. Well, for me it's just getting going. I have lived in Namibia for over 10 years (grew up in Kenya and studied in South Africa.) I lived here in Swakopmund for a number of years, before moving to Sossusvlei where I spend around 7 years. The whole time I was guiding and the whole time I had a passion for birds, birding, and sharing birds and nature in general with guests.

I have found with time, as I have learned more, that I enjoy specialist tours more, simply because there is a focus. I have been birding the area for all these years and now my family live here and I have two boys who need school. I was offered a deal by Safari Wise to do their coastal birding and regular day tours. I was also trying to start up Frantic Naturalist Tours and Safaris, my own company. It will still get going in the long run, but for now, with a downturn in the economy and with kids needing dad around a little more, it's great to have the chance to do birding here. It's just getting going, but I am confident that it should be a good arrangement.

So that's me, Safari Wise and birding in this area.

The area: Swakopmund and Walvis Bay sit near each other and hold a few wetland areas that are great birding spots. These towns sit on a coastline, the Skeleton Coast, a vast desert area with few town, few people and few wetlands.

Why come birding in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay?

1. Walvis Bay Lagoon and salt works
   
   Description: Walvis Bay Lagoon is situated just north of the massive Namib Sand Sea, the huge region of sand that includes Sossusvlei. South-east of the Lagoon, the bigger dunes can be seen, and dunes pose a realistic threat to Walvis Bay itself.
   
   The Lagoon is created by a 14 kilometre sandbar stretching northwards. On the northern side the water is deep, creating Walvis Bay's main economy, the harbor.
   
   Further south it get more shallow and creates an area of tidal mudflats. Some of these mudflats are vast.
   
   South of the mudflats are commercial Salt Works. Here large pans are flooded with sea water and evaporation is used to get the salt. This area is important for birds like Lesser Flamingo because in these warmer pans (being shallower than the ocean, and not influenced as much by the tide) are good for Algae that the flamingos feed on.
   
   Walvis Bay is good for terns, both greater and Lesser Flamingos, a great population of Black Necked Grebe, as well as loads of migrant waders. The Chestnut Banded Plover population is up and down.
   Links
   Peregrines Birding Blog did a post on Walvis Bay. I have also posted some stuff on Walvis Bay, here's one.
   The Coastal Environmental Trust of Namibia (CETN) has a useful website with information about the Walvis Bay Lagoon. They were instrumental in getting the Lagoon registered as a Ramsar Site and they oversee the bi-annual wetland counts for the Lagoon.
   


2. Swakopmund Salt Works
   Description: The Swakopmund Salt works is not situated in a lagoon like Walvis Bay. The site is also restricted and so most birders can only do the outside of it. One can, though, drive right round the whole periphery of the area. This area has a guano platform (a large wooden platform to collect bird poo) which means there are huge numbers of Cape Cormorants around. Rare birds frequently show up here. It can be good for Terns.
   Links: This is my regular spot, and so I post frequently about it on this blog about the area.
   


3. Swakop Sewage Works
   Description: A small area, but packed full of birds. It is in the middle of town. It's a great area to see ducks and things like that, not often seen on the more open lagoon and wetlands. It is, though, a sewage works area, and may not appeal to everyone. The area is closed after working hours and on weekends.
   Links: I also visit this area somewhat regularly, and so it will also feature in this blog.
   


4. Swakop River Mouth
   Description: A small wetland at the mouth of the Swakop River just separated by the Atlantic by a short stretch of beach. The wetland is small, but can be a rewarding birding site. We do monthly counts of the area, and recently had an American Golden Plover as a fun rarity for twitchers.
   Link: I also regularly count this spot, and participate when I can in the monthly counts. A recent bit of excitement has been the river flooding.
   I found a site that has a short video of the Swakop River Mouth. Nothing fancy but it gives you an idea. They were not super birders and I left a little comment you can check out at the bottom of the post. Check it out here
   


5. The Gravel Plains
   Description: The Gravel Plains are fast areas of desert devoid of Dunes for the most part, and often covered by small gravelly rocks or with a gypsum crust. Nearby Swakopmund the main reason to visit the gravel plains is to see Lichens, but for birders, one of Namibia's near endemic birds is only found on these plains, the Grey's Lark.
   


6. The Kuiseb River
   Description: The Kuiseb river makes a fascinating desert outing and for birders it gives a chance to see some of the typical Namibian birds that one doesn't often see at the coast. The Kuiseb river blocks the northward march of the Namib Sand Sea, Namibia's largest dune field, and the vegetated dunes on the river's south bank is a great place to find Namibia's only totally endemic bird, the Dune Lark.
   Links: Some info can be found at the Gobabeb Training and Research Center's website.
   


7. Further out
   Description: If you stay in Walvis Bay you could do a trip out for a day or a couple days. This may be an ideal way to do a good bit of local birding, and may suit South Africans very nicely. Perhaps a night in Omaruru or the Erongo mountains and then a night up to Damaraland and back to Swakopmund. There are many options for this kind of arrangement. If you would like to do this kind of birding trip, get hold of me or contact Safari Wise.
   

There is more useful information in NACOMA'S website.

Email me for recommendations on accommodation if you like.

If you plan to visit the area, you may find there books useful. Get them from Amazon: Birding in Namibia and Sasol Birds of Southern Africa.

Namibia is one of the safest and logistically simple countries in Africa to visit. It is rewarding for birders and nature lovers. The central coastal area's wetlands are especially special for birding as it holds a few wet areas along a huge desert coast, where rain seldom falls at all. It's interesting, rewarding, beautiful, perhaps a little strange, and well worth a visit. For more information about Namibia, please contact me. If you enjoyed this post please share it with others who may be interested or bookmark it on social media sites. You are most welcome to leave a comment.

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Swakop River's 2009 flooding

The exitment around here for the last week or so has been our rivers. In Namibia all the rivers between the northern border and southern border are dry river beds. The rivers flow most years at least a little, but it's once in years, or even once in decades that the rivers actually reach the ocean.

At the coast we have two rivers in the vicinity of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The Kuiseb is just south of Walvis Bay, and it has nearly flooded into the lagoon. The Swakop river is here, just south of Swakopmund. Swakopmund's name comes from this river, the 'mund' being 'mouth.'

For us as birders there are aditional reasons for the interest. The river flows through the little wetland at the river mouth. Basically it's a bit like pressing a reset button. The whole system gets flushed out, and a somewhat new wetland is created. It all depends on how much water comes down and with how much power. This year it also depends on the human impact, digging trenches to encourage the river to flow out to the ocean.

We watched and watched. Everyone kept talking about the river coming down. It hasn't had a good flood into the Atlantic since 2000, so you can imagine that it's a big deal.

On Friday I went down with my boys. They had cut a long channel in the river bed. I am not too sure that it is a good thing. Anyway, the paper had said the river had already flowed, but when we were there, it certainly hadn't.

The man in the photograph is Dr. Hu Berry, a rather well known conservationist and guide in Namibia. Read more about him here. Him and his wife were also there to check it out when we got down there.

Hu walking down the channel cut for the river on Friday

The river made it to the ocean later. It was fun walking around there the next day. The river had already dropped and clay was left where the river had flooded at it's highest. Full of bird's tracks.

The birds had changed remarkably little at a casual glance. I will, of course, be watching each day.

Everyone comes out to check it out, and the kids, including mine, have a good time in the river.

The ocean has washed very high over the last couple of days, and there were some images in the newspapers. I haven't been back to the river mouth, but will try to pop down tomorrow. It may be, if the river flooded so high, that salt water went into the small wetland at the mouth. I am not sure how significant this will be environmentally.

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Rain in Swakopmund

I still remember my first time to Swakopmund. I was coming down to the coast from Windhoek within about the first month that I had arrived in Namibia. I had to come and help with a set up for a desert function.

I grew up in the Kaisut desert, and it's rather arid, and we had the Chalbi just north of us, which is a really amazing and strange. But driving down to Swakopmund was really strange.

The Namib Desert around Swakopmund is mainly composed of gravel plains, with the dune field lying to the south. When I say gravel, it's not really gravel, it's more a sandy, gypsum crust.

It creates a whitish surface. In the Kaisut we would get around 100mm average annual rainfall. That's dry. In Swakopmund, it's more like 14mm average annual rainfall. That isn't rain. It means that at times there are years that go by without rain. There is a significant amount of precipitation from fog off the cold Benguela current. It's about 25mm.

So it's a dry, dry place with strange gypsum plains and frequent fog. Recently we had about a week of rain (not sure if it's ended yet.) I don't know how much feel. But it's kind of strange to be here when it rains. Swakopmund still has mainly gravel roads, but they are bound with salt. Yes, you can almost watch rust develop...it's crazy.

There isn't any proper drainage from the roads, or even from buildings or anything. When it does rain, the town becomes one big mess.

The picture shows the road outside our house after it has dried out. In the morning it had been a challenge to drive on, through the muck.

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