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At a glance: my top 10 things to do in Swakopmund
The Ultimate 3-Day Swakopmund Itinerary (with day trips)
My rankings of the best Swakopmund activities and tourist attractions
1. Meet my beloved sand snakes on Tommy’s Living Desert Tour
2. Wade through Cape Fur seals at Skeleton Coast (Cape Cross specifically)
3. Conquer a towering desert dune: Dune 7
4. Go skydiving if you have a death wish—or quad biking if you don’t
5. Hang out with pelicans on a Catamaran cruises
7. Relax at the amazing Driftwood Guesthouse
8. Get flamboyant with flamingos in the bay
9. See German architecture in Swakopmund coastal town
10. Get some fresh seafood in Swakopmund
I didn’t travel all the way to southern Africa just to come back with a lame list of the top 10 things to do in Swakopmund. I’ve seen the whole city and still have sand in every crevice to prove it. But don't make me show you, no one wants to see that.
And the top 10 things to do in Swakopmund weren’t easy to whittle down. I mean, it’s hard to compete with things like the incredible Tommy’s Living Desert Tour, walking through a whole colony of seals in Cape Cross, exploring Walvis Bay’s marine wildlife, climbing insane sand dunes, and skydiving over the Atlantic Coast if you’re crazy.
Plus, there’s so much to do within a small area. Of course, small is relative. In Namibia, where hundreds of km/miles of driving per day is the norm, having things closer than that is a luxury. This is where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean, don’t expect short distances. So start your engine and let’s dive into the top 10 things to do in Swakopmund.
Read more from my Namibia travel blog.
Tip: If you’re researching Swakopmund, you’re probably planning a trip to Namibia, right? Better come prepared: read up on self-driving in Namibia before you do something stupid like rent a 2WD or forget your international driver’s license.
I swear didn’t have a Namibian heat stroke when I put Swakopmund at the top of my “Best places in Namibia” list. Spoiler: it’s not just because I like snakes and lizards, I promise. Although that doesn’t hurt. It’s also because compared to the rest of the country, it’s easy to see lots of things in (relatively) close proximity.
Swakopmund is also seriously worth visiting if you’re into wildlife—not just the aforementioned reptiles but also flamingos, seals, and even dolphins and whales if you’re lucky. No one can tell me they don’t want to see those.
And they’re everywhere. It’s hard to go to Sandwich Harbor or Walvis Bay and not see wildlife.
Swapkomund Namibia map. See my Google Maps list of places—no need to find everything on the map for yourself, that's what you have me for!
Day 1
Hotel: Driftwood Guesthouse
Day 2
Day 3
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Swakopmund is a coastal city with strong German influences in its architecture—one of the most famous buildings is the public library, which is a half-timber house a couple of blocks from the beach.
The city is a popular beach resort and adventure acitivites center. Later, I’ll explain all about the adrenaline-pumping activities for the ultimate thrill, plus other more chill things to do in Swakopmund.
We stayed in a fantastic hotel in Swakopmund, too, so I’ll tell you about that to save you the frustration of finding accommodation that looks great in the online photos but turns out to be a semi-dump in real life. A common occurrence in Namibia!
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My top tips for visiting Swakopmund:
The city gets almost no rain whatsoever. Instead, it gets thick fog—the reason there are so many shipwrecks in the area. Fog can make driving on the coastal roads dangerous, too! More about driving in Namibia.
There are a lot of things to do in Swakopmund, which is unique in Namibia. Stay at least 3 nights. Our favorite Swakopmund hotels: Desert Rendezvous, Driftwood Guesthouse, The Stiltz
Even if you don’t love snakes as much as I do, seeing serpents is one of the best activities in Swakopmund. Definitely take the Living Desert Tour, it was spectacular!
You absolutely need a rental car to get around. I went with the always reliable DiscoverCars.
These places are must-visits on any Namibia itinerary, ranked in order of how I personally enjoyed them:
I totally fell in love with all of the critters on Tommy’s Living Desert Tour
First up and my personal favorite thing to do in Swakopmund: the Living Desert Tour. Get ready to meet some of the cutest sand snakes and lizards in their natural habitat. Don’t you just love the thought of a sand viper hiding in the sand right in front of you? I do.
And the guides? They're the desert gurus, making the tour both informative and entertaining. Everyone is trained by Tommy, the owner, and you can tell they know their stuff and love what they do.
If Tommy’s tours aren’t running during your visit (which happens), you can still book a similar experience here.
After you find every living thing in your vicinity, you get to prance around on the sand dunes, and end your morning with a view out to the Atlantic Ocean. Epic. One of the best tourist attractions in Namibia and most unique desert landscapes you'll ever see.
Pro tip: Make sure to bring a hat, because you’ll be in the sun non-stop.
The tour takes 4–5 hours during which they take you into the desert a little south of Swakopmund and then proceed to look for and find all kinds of creatures. They have a tour every morning and sometimes in the afternoons, too, depending on the weather (read: if it’s hot as heck, they aren’t going).
It’s hard to describe just how cool this tour was! Luckily, photos exist! Here are some more:
Tommy’s Living Desert Tour is the best thing you will do in Namibia! It’s like a scavenger hunt, but with wild snakes and lizards
I get tired of the desert, but this place was awesome
A very sandy Skeleton Coast
For me, Cape Cross is the highlight of the Skeleton Coast. I didn’t care much for the northern bit of the Skeleton Coast, the part with the dead ship carcasses. It’s just a bunch of sand and some shipwrecks, that’s it, and I see no reason to see more sand in Namibia.
Cape Cross, on the other hand, is a big YES in my book! It’s in the southernmost part of Skeleton Coast, 120 km (74 miles) from Swakopmund to be exact, which is basically next door by Namibian standards. The drive from Swakopmund to Cape Cross will take you about 1.5 hours.
Pro tip: If coastal cities are your kind of thing, check out the best things to do in Cape Town.
That sounds like a lot of driving, but again, this is Namibia. The fact that these places are within a couple hours’ drive make them count as “in” Swakopmund.
Cape Cross is to the north of Swakopmund, so if you’re staying at the charming Driftwood Guesthouse, you’re in a great spot to head out there. We stayed in Desert Rendezvous, which is about midway on the drive from Swakopmund to Cape Cross.
The massive colony of Cape Fur seals that awaits you there will have you mesmerized as they frolic in the waves and nap all over the beach. Especially the little pups and the more menacing-looking mothers.
Another stunner? The smell! In a 100,000+ member colony, there’s quite a few deaths and no clearing away of the carcasses, and I’m not lying when I say that it took us something like 4 days to wash out that gnarly smell from our hair. Maybe don’t wear your fancy clothes, either, because I don’t know what y’all wash your clothes in, but death is a tough stain to tackle.
Tip: If this all sounds too intimidating, you can see a smaller seal colony at Pelican Point instead.
There is a wooden walkway that you can walk on to see the seals from—it’s right on the beach, so you’re literally right next to the animals.
Parking is easy and costs NAD 50 (USD 2.50)
Opening hours: open daily 10 am-5 pm
Tickets for foreign adults: NAD 150 (USD 8.50)
Dune 7
Visiting Namibia’s Dune 7 is like going to a sandbox on steroids—it’s the highest sand dune in Namibia (NOT in the world, as I’ve seen written elsewhere?!) at 383 m (1250 ft). It’s a big pile of sand, yes, but it’s the biggest pile of sand you’ll see in a country of rolling dunes, so go climb that bad boy! It’s one of the most fun things to do in Swakopmund! All smaller dunes are ruined now...
It’s no easy feat, especially if you leave your brain at home and choose daytime to go climbing this towering dune in the middle of the desert in the summer. Just don’t. The sand is as hot as the devil’s asshole and it’s so soft and mushy that your feet will burn and you’ll be going two steps forward and one slide back the whole time.
Taking a look back at the “parking lot” at Namibia Dune 7
If you are visiting in the hotter months, go early in the morning when the sand is still cool and hard (the dunes of the Namib Desert are hot in the day, but freezing at night!). I’d say be there by 9 am for the best results. OR head out for sunset, when the cold is creeping back in, cooling that sand mound the heck down.
Weather tip: The best months to visit Namibia are May to September aka the winter.
You can easily drive to parking lot that’s just a flat area under the towering Dune 7. For example, if you’re coming from The Stiltz, it’ll take just under 40 minutes. Google Maps will take you there when you tell it to navigate to Dune 7. You’ll be asked to pay NAD 100 per person to be able to stop there and climb the dune. Bring cash.
There are toilets available, too, but you want to avoid them unless your breakfast is not staying down and it’s urgent. Avoid further frustration by BYOTP—bringing your own toilet paper.
Fun dune fact: Dune 7 is barely a blip compared to the world’s actual tallest dune—Duna Federico Kirbus in Argentina. At 1,230 m (4,000 ft), it’s just a few grains of sand shy of UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Now THAT’s a pile of sand!
Sand, sand, and more sand! Perfect for quad biking
Swakopmund is a mecca of skydiving, which I skipped since I don’t have a death wish just yet.
Thankfully there are other things to in Swakopund that will still scratch that adrenaline itch. I recommend tearing through the desert on a quad bike instead.
Fun fact: The Namib Desert may be around 80 million years old. Compared to that, the Sahara Desert is a baby, at 5 million years max.
Quad biking is a sheer thrill ride with no risk of free-falling from the sky with a shit parachute (I know I’d be the one to get it). You’ll also probably see a snake or two, too, which might be more than enough excitement for some.
I got to tear through the desert on a high-speed bike and enjoy the natural beauty around me as I kicked up tons of sand. Just be careful not to let any blow into your face.
It really was good fun, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. There are many adventure tour shops in town, most with really good reviews, so just go with whichever tickles your fancy.
Other desert activities in Swakopmund: sandboarding, dune buggies, sea kayaking, fat biking (I don’t know if that’s the official name, but you go out on bicycles fitted with those really fat tires).
This is me in cat form
Are you looking at the seals or are they looking at you?
If you're feeling a bit bit tired of desert sand and you're craving some watery goodness instead, I've got just the thing for you! Namibia's got a whole bunch of marine wildlife, and if you want to catch a glimpse of 'em, you'll have to say goodbye to the solid ground. Which I didn’t mind-this is one of those rare things to do in Swakopmund that don’t involve sand, so I savored it while I was there.
Hop on a catamaran in Walvis Bay lagoon–thankfully Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are not far from each other, just a 25-minute drive. Which gives you no excuse to skip it. Especially because it's one of the most important wetlands in southern Africa, plus has an absolutely stunning and scenic coastline. Sold yet?
You can spend 3–4 hours being entertained by dozens of cooky pelicans and cormorants that are called to the boat by fish being held out, allowing them to swoosh by to collect their snack. You’ll also see seals, dolphins, and, if you’re lucky, even whales! Humpback whales and southern right whales are both known to hang out around this area, especially in the summer.
Most tour operators also stop at an oyster farm and give you a tasting of the slippery suckers. It's one of the few places to get the freshest oyster ever.
Catamaran Dolphin Cruises and Sun Sail Catamarans Namibia are two operators with great reviews.
Hello, my lovelies
If you were a snake, you’d be calling yourself lucky to be living in Namibia—it’s snake paradise. At least the 81 snake species that live there think so! I have a thing for serpents, so for me this was one of the top things to do in Swakopmund—especially because I didn’t see any of these gentle giants on the Living Desert Tour. So I was really happy to get my snake fix at the Snake Park.
It is the absolute best reptile exhibit I've ever seen. They've got all kinds of Namibian snakes, including the deadly Black Mamba, the stunning Cape Cobra, the Zebra Snake, and my favorite, the Puff Adder. These snakes are both adorable and dangerous, which makes them all the more captivating to stare at from a couple of centimeters away (through glass, obviously).
There are also other critters, such as big lizards and turtles, but I was too fascinated by the snakes to give them the time of day.
Open daily 9 am–5 pm, 10 am–4 pm on Sundays
Tickets cost around NAD 150 for adults
There’s no shortage of wood @ Driftwood Guesthouse
Swakopmund isn’t just desert adventure and thrills—or it doesn’t have to be. Life is your oyster, right? Make the best of the relatively large range of accommodations available and choose a hotel that you’ll be happy to come back to after a day of adrenaline.
But, let me tell you, if you thought choosing a good hotel in Namibia was easy, think again. Honestly, it’s one of the hardest things to do in Swakopmund. It's not just a matter of scrolling through a bunch of pretty pictures and booking the one that catches your eye. It’s all a big, fat lie! Those pictures may be worth a thousand words, but they're coming from a lying liar who lies!
Trust me, I've been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt. The photo editing I’ve seen in Namibia is like none other.
My pick: Driftwood Guesthouse
I don’t know how they do it, but you feel so welcome at Driftwood Guesthouse you’d think you own the place! As soon as you step through the door, it's almost like they've been expecting you, and boy are they happy to see you!
The breakfast is amazing, the small central courtyard provides a place to relax, and the rustic wood furniture adds character. One of the best hotels Swakopmund offers, hand down.
Driftwood Guesthouse is located a couple km to the north of central Swakopmund right by the beach in a quieter area, making relaxing (and parking) a breeze.
Here are my reliable recommendations for Swakopmund hotels:
Where we stayed (and loved): Desert Rendezvous
Top pick in town: Driftwood Guesthouse
Unique place: The Stiltz
Look, it’s a flamboyance! I promise they were pink
Head out to Walvis Bay or Sandwich Harbor for some pink bird spotting.
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of flamingos—I mean, they're just pink birds, right? But I get it, taking pictures of them is one of the most Instagrammable things to do in Swakopmund. So head over to the pretty Walvis Bay Lagoon or Sandwich Harbor to see the flamboyance of flamingos. Yes, a group of flamingos is called a flamboyance. They are so extra, I just can’t even with them.
It's also the thing to do if you're more of a nature buff, don’t feel like falling from the sky, hugging snakes OR driving like a maniac (if you’re self-driving in Namibia, you’re already doing plenty of that).
You can also take a Sandwich Harbor tour and catch the flamingos as you pass by.
Top tip: If you want even more pink, go to Walvis Bay for the pink lakes. Yes, the water literally looks pink because of the unique local flora there.
Second top tip: If you go to both Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbor, you'll pass cool salt pans on your way. I would recommend this if you have the time.
Another fun fact: The flamingo’s knees aren’t their knees—that joint you see when they’re chillin’ on one leg is actually the ankle. They do have knees, just way higher up, hiding under their pretty pink feathers.
Beyond the thrilling Swakopmund activities, you'll definitely want to explore the city itself.
Thanks to Swakopmund’s German colonial roots, I spotted traces of history all around town, from the charming, restored houses and the Lutheran Church, to the iconic half-timber Woermannhaus.
I even stumbled onto the craft market in the center of town and even catught a glimpse of some Himba tribe women offering handmade jewelry and a photo op (for a fee, of course).
And what's a coastal town without some good old-fashioned beach bummery? Whether you're a local or a tourist, soaking up the sun, horse riding, and taking leisurely strolls on the Swakopmund jetty are among the best things to do in Swakopmund. Oh, and and I didn’t forget to make your way to the tip of Palm Beach to catch a glimpse of the lighthouse.
Speaking of the lighthouse, there’s some beer-tasting to be had closeby...
Tip: If you need even more of a break from the sand, check out the National Marine Aquarium or Swakopmund Museum.
Eating well in Swakopmund @ the Strand Hotel
I’m all about eating great food in restaurants, but Namibia does not make it easy. I found some good spots in Windhoek (the capital), near Etosha National Park, and inSwakopmund. That’s about it. Namibia’s population is so sparse that you should generally be prepared to eat full meals in your hotel as its usually the only place with a decent restaurant in a radius of 50 km.
That said, Swakopmund has some of the best restaurants in Namibia. The German influence rubs off on the restaurants in Swakopmund, which can only mean one fabulously hopsy thing: beer! Turns out drinking German beer is one of the best things to do in Swakopmund. And that’s one non-adventurous activity I can get behind!
There’s a restaurant in Swakopmund that has its very own brewery—Brewer & Butcher, a cool spot close to the lighthouse. You can imagine we were regulars there! You could mistake it for a real-life hipster German beer hall if it weren’t for the sea views and light fixtures made of animal horns (and not dear antlers). Beer was great, food was great, service was a little slow, but we didn’t really mind. Brewer & Butcher is part of the Strand Hotel.
Another good choice is The Tug (because it’s made from an old tugboat). This is the place to have seafood in Swakopmund, but it’s not like they don’t have anything else—shout out to the lovely sparkling wine. The beauty of this place lies in its location, too-if you were any closer to the sea, you’d actually have to be on a (tug) boat.
Swakopmund is my favorite place in Namibia for good reason, with only Fish River Canyon as a very close second. It was a lovely surprise in the middle of my Namibia trip, which included lots and lots of driving, disappointing hotels, and some feelings of unsafety. Swakopmund suffers from none of these problems. Well, besides the ‘lots and lots of driving’—but compared to the rest of the country, it felt like a short blip of a ride through the Namib Desert.
I’m picky when it comes to what I put in my itineraries. But the things to do in Swakopmund all really deserve their place. The vast dunes? Sandwich Harbor, Walvis Bay, and Pelican Point? Rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean? Sampling fresh Namibian oysters? The list goes on and on.
I thought the activities to do in Swakopmund were really unique. Like sure, I’ve been to my fair share of sandy places, but walking through entire seal colonies? Never. Swakopmund is an absolute must during a trip to Namibia, no question about it.
I never felt unsafe in Swakopmund. Then again, I’m a guy. But be aware of pickpockets, that goes for everyone. They stake out the touristy area and can be kind of pushy sometimes. Not dangerous, though by any means.
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At a glance: my top 10 things to do in Swakopmund
The Ultimate 3-Day Swakopmund Itinerary (with day trips)
My rankings of the best Swakopmund activities and tourist attractions
1. Meet my beloved sand snakes on Tommy’s Living Desert Tour
2. Wade through Cape Fur seals at Skeleton Coast (Cape Cross specifically)
3. Conquer a towering desert dune: Dune 7
4. Go skydiving if you have a death wish—or quad biking if you don’t
5. Hang out with pelicans on a Catamaran cruises
7. Relax at the amazing Driftwood Guesthouse
8. Get flamboyant with flamingos in the bay
9. See German architecture in Swakopmund coastal town
10. Get some fresh seafood in Swakopmund
Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
If that sounds like your kind of journey, hop on board, and let’s explore the world together!
I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences.
Here’s the deal: not every destination is all superlatives and unicorns. I’ll let you know if a tourist attraction isn’t worth your time, like skipping overrated stops in my 2-week Spain itinerary. And when I find something truly special—like the perfect mix of culture and nature in Cape Town—you can trust that it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
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