Namibia attractions

With its German-style façade and tower latticed in green and gold, historic Woermannhaus is a Swakopmund icon that’s among the city’s oldest buildings. Today, that national landmark holds a public library and art center. The main draw for visitors, however, is the excellent view from its impressive four-sided tower—vistas at the top stretch from the nearby waterfront to the easterly desert.

The township of Mondesa provides a glimpse into Namibia’s complex history. Located on the outskirts of Swakopmund, the settlement was initially used to segregate Black people when South African apartheid laws were extended to Namibia. Today, the settlement is home to a diverse community of residents from across Namibia.

Known as the “Garden Town of Namibia,” this historic community of 24,000 residents makes a good home base for travelers seeking an alternative to Windhoek. There’s a laid-back, small-town feel here, as well as a craft market overflowing with vivid artwork by local woodcarvers, whose sculptures depict wildlife from fish to rhinoceroses.

The red stone crenellations of Duwisib Castle stand out against the brilliant blue sky of the Namibian desert, making for a dramatic scene. Despite the castle’s medieval appearance, it was only built in 1909 to serve as the residence of a German military officer. Today, it operates as a national monument and museum.

Namibia ranks high on the world’s economic disparity list, as the income gap between its richest residents and the nation’s poorest people is one of the largest on record. The difference between the haves and the have-nots is particularly evident on a visit to Swakopmund, where well-paved roads, modern streetlights and beautifully constructed colonial buildings sit next to quiet cafes and restaurants dishing up international cuisine. But just beyond the city limits lies an informal settlement called the Democratic Resettlement Community. Once a temporary holding ground for people awaiting government housing, some 6,000 people call the thriving DRC home, an area built from reclaimed trash discarded by the city’s rich. Visitors to this impoverished but thriving neighborhood can see how the other half of Namibia’s city dwellers live—those who often work in the service industries that supply the country’s elite and international travelers with all the comforts of home. Tour the DRC’s active youth center, free health clinic and home for orphans and vulnerable children while wandering the streets of this informal settlement.

Tsauchab River does not always exist. If you’re lucky enough to be in Namibia in the rare periods of rainfall in the Naukluft Mountains, you’ll be able to watch the drama of a canyon rapidly filling with water to create the ephemeral Tsauchab River. The contrast of the red sand against the wide blue sky adds an alien feel to the scene.

Located off the coast of Namibia, Pelican Point is a remote peninsula and sandbar in the Erongo region. With the Atlantic Ocean on one side, and the calm Walvis Bay Lagoon on the other, Pelican Bay is known for its stunning natural beauty. It’s also home to abundant wildlife, including seals, flamingos, cormorants, and pelicans.