AfricaNamibiaErongo Region
Swakopmund
Erongo Region, Namibia · Africa
About Swakopmund
Swakopmund sits on the route: 35 minutes from Walvis Bay.
Swakopmund is in Erongo Region, Namibia, with about 53,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Walvis Bay, about 31 km away.
Swakopmund ('Mouth of the Swakop') is a city on the coast of western Namibia, 352 km (219 mi) west of the Namibian capital Windhoek via the B2 main road. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. It had 75,921 inhabitants in 2023.
The city is situated at the edge of the Namib Desert and is the fourthRead more
largest population centre in Namibia. Swakopmund is a popular beach resort and characterized by 19th century German colonial architecture. The city was founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German South West Africa.
Buildings in the city include the Altes Gefängnis, a prison designed by Heinrich Bause in 1909. The Woermannhaus, built in 1906 with a prominent tower (Damara tower), is now a public library. Attractions in Swakopmund include the Swakopmund Museum, the National Marine Aquarium of Namibia, the Crystal Gallery.
Activities like quad biking, camel rides, sky diving, paragliding, and desert day trips are offered in the sand dunes near Langstrand, south of the Swakop River.
Outside the city, the Rossmund Desert Golf Course is one of only five all-grass desert golf courses in the world. Nearby is a farm that offers camel rides to tourists and the Martin Luther steam locomotive, dating from 1896 and abandoned in the desert.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Swakopmund?
Swakopmund is in Erongo Region, Namibia, about 31 km from Walvis Bay.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 53,009
- Continent
- Africa
- Country
- Namibia
- Region
- Erongo Region
- Timezone
- Africa/Windhoek
- Coordinates
- -22.6784, 14.5266
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Namibia
Most highways are gravel: reduce speed and carry two spare tyres on long routes.
Full driving guide for NamibiaTags
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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