Namibia's two main coastal towns lie barely 30km from one another, and yet are very different indeed. They have remarkably different histories, and are very diverse in feeling. Swakopmund generally makes a more interesting place to stay, with a much better choice of restaurants, hotels and guest houses, whilst Walvis Bay is the springboard for several super desert trips.

Where to stay in Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a small, quaintly Germanic town, surrounded by the desert and the ocean. There's a wide range of places to stay here, including:

Atlantic Villa Guesthouse

About 6km north of Swakopmund's town centre stands Atlantic Villa Guesthouse, a quiet and friendly place with five rooms and two self-catering apartments. Each room has a small balcony, overlooking the surrounding desert and ocean. (Read more about Atlantic Villa Guest House…)

Beach Lodge

Right on the beach, the quirky Beach Lodge stands about 5km north of Swakopmund. It has 15 well-appointed en-suite rooms, decorated in a nautical theme, and recently opened one of the town's best restaurants. (Read more about Beach Lodge…)

Brigadoon

Brigadoon is set across the road from Swakopmund's main beach, and has seven tasteful bed-and-breakfast rooms, as well as two self-catering cottages with fully equipped kitchens. Many excellent restaurants are within walking distance. (Read more about Brigadoon…)

Central Guest House

A five minutes' walk from Swakopmund's town centre, the Central Guest House is a comfortable base for over-night stops. Its six en-suite bedrooms are equipped with dark mahogany furnishings, and activities can be arranged with the help of its owners. (Read more about Central Guest House…)

Cornerstone Guesthouse

Set within a residential area in Swakopmund's town centre, Cornerstone Guest House is a quite modern and good-value bed and breakfast accommodation. It has only five well-appointed rooms, each with a private patio looking out onto lively gardens. (Read more about Cornerstone Guesthouse…)

Eberwein Hotel

The historic Eberwein Hotel has 17 individually designed rooms, partially Victorian in style, with en-suite bathrooms and under-floor heating for Swakopmund's colder days. Its staff will gladly help you to arrange all kinds of outdoor activities. (Read more about Eberwein Hotel…)

Guesthouse Indongo

Part of the Protea Hotels Group, Guesthouse Indongo stands only 200m from the beach, and has six guest rooms. Main features include a living room with fireplace and winter garden, as well as outdoor braai facilities. (Read more about Guesthouse Indongo…)

Hansa Hotel

Set in a central location, Hansa Hotel is Swakopmund's best traditional hotel – polished hospitality with 58 rooms and suites, and excellent food in its very formal restaurant. It's an award-winning place, and certainly a good choice. (Read more about Hansa Hotel…)

Intermezzo Guesthouse

A few miles out of town you'll find the bright and cheerful Intermezzo Guesthouse. It has nine spacious guest rooms, including two family units, and stands in a quiet and tranquil area, ideal to relax and unwind. (Read more about Intermezzo Guesthouse…)

Sam's Giardino

Amongst the places to stay in Swakopmund, the owner-run Sams Giardino is one of our favourites. It offers nine comfortable and spacious rooms, bulky breakfasts, and if you eat in, an optional wine-tasting to accompany dinner. (Read more about Sams Giardino…)

Sandfields Guesthouse

Just north of Swakopmund town centre, the friendly Sandfields guesthouse is a cosy and inviting place to stay, and is particularly suited to families with children. (Read more about Sandfields Guesthouse…)

Sea Breeze Guesthouse

Sea Breeze Guesthouse stands close to Swakopmund's beachfront, and has nine beautifully furnished rooms and self-catering units. It has a relaxed atmosphere, and is close to many attractions, including the National Marine Aquarium. (Read more about Sea Breeze…)

Secret Garden Guesthouse

In the heart of Swakopmund's old town centre lies the Secret Garden Guesthouse. It has six en-suite double rooms, as well as two comfortable suites, complete with a living room, a kitchenette and a balcony. Barbeque facilities are also available. (Read more about Secret Garden Guesthouse…)

Swakopmund Guesthouse

Conveniently situated in Swakopmund's town centre, this former family holiday home now boasts 11 rooms and one family unit, decorated with wallpapers showing tranquil ocean scenes. A range of activities is available, including sandboarding in the dunes and camel rides at a nearby farm. (Read more about Swakopmund Guesthouse…)

The Burning Shore

The Burning Shore is set on Long Beach, just south of Swakopmund. It has seven guest rooms and five suites, a large restaurant and an outdoor dining area with access to the beach. Unfortunately, the area is a bit cramped with buildings. (Read more about The Burning Shore…)

The Stiltz

The Stiltz overlooks the small estuary of the Swakop River, as well as the dunes or the Atlantic. Built on stilts are nine wooden bungalows with private balconies, accessible from the main area by wooden walkways – it's a lovely place. (Read more about The Stiltz…)

Villa Margherita

Villa Margherita lies in the heart of Swakopmund, close to many amenities. It's an elegant old house and yet quite modern, with seven comfortable double rooms and one separate honeymoon suite across the street. It's ideal for a few days' visit to Swakopmund. (Read more about Villa Margherita…)

What to do in Swakopmund

Swakopmund may be Namibia's main seaside 'resort', but it isn't really commercial by Western standards. We regard it as a convenient stop for a few days, with plenty of good hotels, great seafood, many historic buildings and a relaxed atmosphere. Among the shops you'll find a fascinating museum of crystals and Africa's best source of African artefacts and antique books. Just to the south, Walvis Bay's lagoon and its 'bird paradise' attract large flocks of flamingos, Cape pelicans and other migrant water birds.

In and around these small towns there's a wide range of things to do, including dune boarding, birdwatching, fishing, sea kayaking, scenic flights and even sky-diving.

Small group holidays to Swakopmund with Wild about Africa

Fancy a simple camping adventure or a luxury camping safari to Namibia, travelling with like-minded travellers and including a few nights' stop-over in Swakopmund? Or would you prefer an exclusive and private guided safari holiday visiting Swakopmund and Walvis Bay? Wild about Africa's has a good selection of Safaris to Namibia, visiting Swakopmund.

Where to stay in Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay is a very different to Swakopmund, even though it's barely 30km to the south. It's a very different history: technically it even remained part of South Africa well after the rest of Namibia became independent in 1990. Places to stay here include:

Lagoon Lodge

For keen birdwatchers, the Lagoon Lodge is the obvious place to stay in Walvis Bay. Each of its eight spacious and tastefully decorated rooms has a private balcony overlooking the lagoon. There's a swimming pool set in well-maintained gardens, and sundowners can be enjoyed on a roof deck. (Read more about Lagoon Lodge…)

Pelican Bay Hotel

A two minutes' walk from town, overlooking the lagoon, you'll find the Pelican Bay Hotel – a Protea property. It's quite big, with 48 rooms, two suites, two restaurants and four banquet rooms. It's also fairly noisy, but convenient for over-night stops in Walvis Bay. (Read more about Pelican Bay Hotel…)

Kayaking in Walvis Bay

Kayaking is a superb way to get close to birdlife and marine mammals. You might expect a muscle-bound, juvenile guide, but instead you will be guided by the delightful Jeanne Meintjes – a relaxed, mature local woman whose hobby is now a small business. Jeanne's trips run in the early morning, when the water is flat. No kayaking experience is necessary, and you don't need to be athletic: just meet Jeanne in Walvis Bay, and she will supply all the equipment.

Trips start with a 4WD drive through working saltpans to launch the kayaks beside the seal colony, at Pelican Point. The kayaking is usually gentle, lasting two to three hours before you pause on the beach for sandwiches and a drink. On the water, inquisitive seals often come close, playing and splashing around, whilst further out you've a chance of spotting dolphins and whales. This is a blissful way to spend a morning.

Exploring the coast

Most visitors come to Namibia for its wild areas, not its towns, but both Swakopmund and Walvis Bay make ideal bases from which to explore little-visited parts of this coastal desert. You can drive yourself to some, but to access the best and to really learn about them, spend a day with an expert guide.

Swakopmund is home to some of Namibia's best guides who have a wealth of in-depth knowledge on the area's flora, fauna and geology. Join a small group, typically no more than eight people, to explore by 4WD and on foot – on trips that can bring Namibia's coastal desert alive for you.

The Sandwich Harbour trip is by far the most popular, and includes historic sites in the Kuiseb Delta, bird-rich lagoons at Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour (tide permitting), and some of the desert's more unusual flora and fauna.

The Namib trip explores the Swakop and Khan River valleys, including some historical sites from World War I, considerable desert wildlife and the Moon Landscape – with Welwitchia plants.

Both trips start at about 8.30am at your hotel, and end around 5pm; a delicious lunch is included, usually served at a magnificent spot in the desert. Private trips, tailored to guests' interests, are easily arranged.


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