Swakopmund, Coastal resort city in Erongo Region, Namibia
Swakopmund is a coastal city in Erongo Region, Namibia, lying between the Atlantic Ocean and the Namib Desert. Wide streets run past colonial buildings, with palm trees and low structures shaping the townscape.
German colonial authorities founded the settlement in 1892 as a harbor for German South West Africa. After World War I, administration passed to South Africa, which kept control until Namibian independence in 1990.
The name comes from the Swakop River, which rarely carries water and runs through town. Today most residents have Damara and Ovambo roots, though German is still spoken in daily life.
The city lies roughly 224 miles (360 kilometers) west of Windhoek on the coast and connects via national road B2. Morning hours offer clear views, while afternoon fog often rolls in from the ocean.
The lighthouse from 1902 still stands and uses electric light instead of petroleum. A desert ecology research station operates at the city edge, where the Namib meets the Atlantic.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
