On the southern side of Namibia's coast, there is only one road to Lüderitz, and bulldozers battle to keep it open through the shifting sands of the Namib. Meanwhile, on the coast, the beautiful buildings of this historic German town sit unchanged. Lüderitz has an atmosphere all of its own: gentle, relaxed, some say sleepy.

If you visit, then stay for at least two nights. Hire a guide for a walking tour, take a trip to the penguin colony or the deserted mining towns nearby, or drive yourself to the peninsula where Bartolomeu Diaz, the Portuguese explorer, became the first European in Southern Africa.

If you have more time, don't miss the boat trip to Halifax Island on the schooner, Sedina. These two- to three-hour trips leave from the harbour at around 8.00am (weather permitting) for Halifax Island, home of a large colony of jackass penguins. It's an excellent area for spotting heavyside dolphins, and a nearby colony of cape fur seals is always entertaining. The informative guide on these trips is usually full of tales of Lüderitz as well as the wildlife.

The best accommodation here is probably at the Zum Sperrgebiet Seaview or the more modern Nest Hotel. Alternatively, for somewhere out of town, then consider Klein Aus Vista, either the Desert Horse Inn or the Eagle's Nest, near the small desert outpost of Aus.

<< Click on the menu, above left, for more details of the places mentioned above.

The Sperrgebeit

From Lüderitz to the South African border, a huge area of the Namib Desert has been off-limits for decades. The Sperrgebeit, which literally translates as 'the forbidden zone', covers an enormous 26,000km2 (that's 20% larger than Wales!). It protects endless desert plains, treacherous shifting sands, and the secrets of ghost-towns which sprang up at the turn of the century, fuelled by a diamond-rush.

The last few years have seen limited access here. We have arranged for a few of our visitors to be guided around, having registered them with the authorities well in advance. Such trips could include a visit to the Bogenfells Rock Arch, the ghost town of Pomona, and the Idatel Valley – where diamonds were once famously collected by the handful in the moonlight.

One of these ghost towns, Kolmanskop, is close to Lüderitz and easy visit. Kolmanskop was abandoned almost 50 years ago and its buildings still lie as they were found; many are gradually being engulfed by the shifting sand dunes.

Now the area is set to become Africa's newest national park, so talk to us for the latest news of what's happening here.


^ Top of page