Swakopmund Coast Popular Attractions

Have a blast in the Namib Desert around Swakopmund! Apart from the town's unique attractions, the surrounding desert has enormous appeal. Gigantic coastal dune belts stretch south to Walvis Bay and vast gravel plains lie to the east and north. The massive dunes along the Atlantic Ocean coastline offer a great playground for some mega-fun activities. Take a guided quad bike tour or go sand boarding, dune climbing and walking. The ocean and desert views from the top of the dunes are also perfect for romantic sundowners. Venture into the gravel plains of the coastal Namib and be amazed by ancient plants, particularly the Welwitschia mirabilis and the sprawling fossil lichen fields. Incredible desert-adapted wildlife, mostly birds, reptiles, springbok and Oryx antelope are frequently seen on desert excursions.

Exciting marine and birdlife is easily seen along the Skeleton Coast, particularly at Cape Cross, and Sandwich Harbour. Popular boat cruises on Walvis Bay Lagoon offer incredible sightings of bottlenose and Heaviside's dolphins, Cape fur seals, pelicans, flamingos, cormorants, sunfish, turtles, and even whales. Bird watching along Swakopmund's beaches, the coastal stretch of the Swakop River Valley, close to Long Beach and further south is also rewarding. Please respect the nesting sites of endangered Damara Terns if you walk along the shore. All beaches are open to the public and easily accessible from a number of designated parking spots. A visit to the Cape Cross Seal Reserve is a must (120 km north of Swakopmund). Birders will find the guided 4x4 tours to bird colonies at Sandwich Harbour incredibly rewarding.