Walking Swakopmund: Old Town and Mondesa

Swakopmund has a small, flat centre, so the main sights fit into one easy walk of a couple of hours. A second kind of walk goes east to the Mondesa township, which is best done with a local guide. Wear a warm layer and comfortable shoes, because the sea breeze is cool and fog often hangs over the coast until late morning.

The colonial old town loop

Start near the beachfront and walk inland and back in a circuit.

  1. Woermannhaus and the Damara Tower. The building is now the public library and an art gallery, and the tower can be climbed for a small fee.
  2. Altes Gefängnis, the Old Prison on Nordring Street, built in 1909 and a national monument since 1973. It is a street view only, so do not plan on going inside.
  3. The Kaiserliches Bezirksgericht, a district court building of 1901.
  4. The lighthouse, built in 1902 and raised in 1910, seen from outside.

Street names in the centre include Sam Nujoma Avenue, and the main streets are easy to follow without a detailed map. The Swakop.com Woermannhaus page is a good place to see the architecture before you go.

The Mole and the beachfront promenade

The promenade by the museum and lighthouse leads to the Mole, a breakwater begun in 1899. From there you can follow the shore to the iron jetty, which runs roughly 260 m out to sea and has a seafood restaurant at the end. Keep to the path and the wall, because the Atlantic has rip currents and strong shorebreak. The Swakopmund Museum, founded in 1951, is on the same stretch and is open about 10:00 to 17:00, with entry about N$30, so check before you go.

Township walks in Mondesa and the DRC

Mondesa is the township east of the centre, and the DRC, the Democratic Resettlement Community, lies beyond it. Visits are run as guided walking or driving tours by several local operators, including Mondesa Township Tours. A typical listing is about US$80 per adult. The UK government advises against entering townships at night without local knowledge, so go by day and with a local guide. See the UK advice on safety and security .

Practical tips

  • Carry small notes for tips and snacks. Rand are widely accepted alongside Namibian dollars.
  • Keep phones and cameras tucked away when you are not using them.
  • A full old town loop with a stop at the museum takes a morning.
  • Mid-afternoon is usually the clearest part of the day for photographs.

Booking

Compare guided township and city walks on GetYourGuide .

Read more: sightseeing in Swakopmund and bus tours in Swakopmund .