Day 76 Fri Mar 31 Walvis Bay, Namibia

 Day 76 Fri Mar 31 Walvis Bay, Namibia 

Swakopmund Sightseeing (WAL-005)

March 31, 2023

Port: Walvis Bay

Tour Length: Half-Day (Approximately 5 hours)

Uncover early 19th-century art nouveau architecture in Swakopmund (13 miles), a seaside resort town that evokes a Bavarian village.

See the lovely neo-Baroque German Evangelical Lutheran Church and the ornate former Railway Station.n DID NOT DO

View the town’s beloved jetty and the Karakulia Weavers, where sheep wool is made into rugs and wall hangings.DID NOT DO

Study crystals up to 14 tons at the Kristall Gallery YES and browse the shops in the Brauhaus Gallery. NO

Capture dramatic photos at the commanding Dune 7, the area’s tallest sand dune.

Observe the Walvis Bay Lagoon and tidal flood plains, recognized internationally for its environmental importance.

Explore Swakopmund’s colonial past during this orientation tour that includes a visit to the Walvis Bay Lagoon. Journey along the scenic coast to the mouth of the Swakop River and find Swakopmund, an enchanting seaside resort that resembles a Bavarian village. You’ll see the town’s colonial past reflected in the early 19th-century art nouveau architecture found on many appealing buildings that have been declared national monuments. Did not discover the neo-Baroque German Evangelical Lutheran Church and the elegant historic Railway Station, which is now the Swakopmund Hotel’s reception area. After passing the town’s historic jetty, we did NOT walk to the Karakulia Weavers where Karakul sheep wool is spun, dyed and woven into rugs and wall hangings. Explore the Kristall Gallery, which displays crystals weighing up to 14 tons, and we did NOT appreciate free time at the Brauhaus Gallery, a town center shopping arcade. En route back to Walvis Bay, you’ll pause for photos at Dune 7, the highest sand dune in the area, then make a brief stop at the Walvis Bay Lagoon and tidal flood plains, declared a Wetland of International Importance, and marvel at its rich marine life and myriad bird species.

The city of Swakopmund is located at the edge of the Namib Desert.  It is a beach resort and was founded in 1892.  In 1923, it was reshaped as a tourist destination.  In 1976, Swakopmund changed shape again with the opening of  a uranium mine. .  The Swakopmund Salt Company produces about 120,000 tons of salt per year.  The People’s Republic of China built a satellite tracking station at Swakopmund.  Another example of China “buying” friends.  

The average temperatures in Swakopmund are a high of 85 and the low from 58-61 degrees.  Numbered streets are easily navigated.  The city center can be covered on foot.  The municipal buildings are decorated with wood carvings from Namibia’s Kavango region.  The lagoon is home to a bird sanctuary and supports a salt industry.   

                                    Flamingos in the bay

                                            Swakopmund  Museum had many rooms set up; kitchen, dining room, living room, sewing room, dentists offices, pharmacy, printing press collections, vehicles, indigenous peoples' collections, cameras collections, etc.  

                                                    Largest Sand Dune in the area  #7

                                                        State House 1990

HELPFUL HINTS

•Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes. •Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

PLEASE NOTE

The tour is available to guests who utilize a collapsible wheelchair, are able to make their own way on and off the coach and have an able-bodied companion to assist them. Guests with mobility concerns are cautioned to evaluate their personal level of ability and stamina. On days when the Kristall Gallery is closed, a visit to Karakulia Weavers will be substituted. Guests who go ashore do so with the understanding that they will be mixing with members of the general public.