Imagine this. You've been in Africa all your life. You've spent the vast majority of your time in countries void of tourism, deep in the heart of Central and West Africa. Moreover, you've been driving a scooter through most of it – alone. Then in the heart of Namibia, you find yourself cruising across the Kalahari Desert. The sky is perfect blue and a fierce wind knocks you and your scooter all over the road. It's hot. The air is dry, as is the barren landscape around you. Then, you hit a wall of white mist; like a squall of cold humid sea air. As you enter the wall of fog, the air cools, becomes humid and clings to your skin. You flip up your visor to see the buildings are of old German architecture, the colours of Europe, and many of the signs in German too. It feels as if you've been transported from Africa across the world. This is exactly how I felt arriving in Swakopmund.
Beyond being completely confusing, Swakopmund is the adventure capital of Namibia and one of my favourite places in all of Southern Africa. If you find yourself bored in this coastal town, I can't imagine you'd find excitement too many places else. In so many ways, it's the perfect backpackers travel destination: great food, good people, and lots of opportunities to get a bit crazy. I'm dying to get back to Swakopmund.
Things to Do and See in Swakopmund
- Skydiving: This is a must. If you're not afraid – hell, even if you are – you need to get up in the air here. You'll go up with a company called Groundrush Adventures. They are awesome!
- Sandboarding: A company called Alter Action runs awesome sandboarding tours just outside of town. You can book through just about any hostel, or head to their office downtown.
- ATV Riding: There are a couple options for Quad-biking on the sand dunes around town. It's a fun way to get out and play in the dunes.
- Bird Watching: I know most people come to Swakop for the adventure, but there are a couple spots that you'll find some really interesting bird life. You'll be sure to see lots of flamingos!
- Surfing: There are a couple spots to hit the surf just out of town.
Taken from : http://www.brendansadventures.com/travel-guides/africa/southern-africa/namibia/swakopmund/
