After spending several nights in the rather hot and sweaty sand dunes of Sossusvlei, and driving through the Namib Desert, we were more than delighted to arrive in the pretty town of Swakopmund with its palm-lined streets, seaside promenades, and beautiful seafront restaurants!

One of Namibia’s most popular holiday destinations, Swakopmund attracts thousands of local holidaymakers and international travellers each year, and it also draws German tourists (by the busload!), who feel right at home in this distinctively ‘German’ town with its colonial buildings and half-timbered coffee shops that give it a real olde-worlde feel.

Those looking for some maritime action should take the 30-minute drive to Walvis Bay, where you can enjoy endless boat trips, a guided tour to Sandwich Island, and a climbing tour up Dune 7 on the outskirts of town.

A fabulous place to spend a day or two, Swakopmund may well be one of the highlights of your Self-Drive Namibia itinerary…