Swakopmund
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Positives
- World's longest left barrel
- Uncrowded, consistent swells
- Concentration of town breaks
- Undiscovered possibilities
- Amazing scenery and wildlife
Negatives
- Extreme Skeleton Bay waves
- Extreme temperatures
- Onshore winds
- Regular morning sea fog
- Difficult, expensive access
Swakopmund surf travel guide
Namibia is not your standard surf trip destination. It’s an 1800km (1125mi) drive from Cape Town to the Swakopmund surfing region, where a handful of decent left reefs have been ridden for decades. It’s a long drive around Walvisbaai and out onto the sand spit that leads to Pelican Point and the lighthouse. A curve in the beach creates the perfect angle for a freakishly fast but fickle, long left tube that is now famously known as ✪Skeleton Bay.
Surf spots in Swakopmund
Research the 10 surf breaks in Swakopmund and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 10 breaks in Swakopmund.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Swakopmund
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Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring Swakopmund.
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 1,499,000
- Population
- 2,540,905
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- NAD
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 7.24 NAD NAD
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +264
- Dialing out
- 00
- Language
- Afrikaans, German, English, Owambo
Electricity
- Plug Type
- dm
Visas
Most nationalities don’t need a visa. For the latest Visa news and any updates check
Getting There
Train services take 9 hours from the capital Windhoek to Swakopmund while the shuttle bus takes 4hrs. From Walvis Bay airport the bus takes 43mins, train 1.5hrs and driving 25mins.
Getting Around
Swakopmund is Namibia’s top resort town. 4WD rental cars are expensive ($100/d). Unless you drive up from South Africa, your best bet is to surf in town and hire a car to get down to Guns when necessary. It’s a good idea to go to the Cape Cross region with a specialist tour agency, like Charlie’s Desert Tours.
Accommodation
Founded by the Germans in 1892, Swakopmund is a blend of colonial town and modern architecture with a variety of good hotels, pensions and coffee shops selling German cakes and pastries. Budget for between $35-$50 for daily living costs. Pelican Point Lodge is out beside the lighthouse near Skeleton Bay offering luxury rooms overlooking the waves.
Activities
Although Swakopmund offers entertainment like a casino, aquarium and waterslides, you haven’t come all this way to pretend you’re at home. Don’t miss the Skeleton Coast, which is the oldest desert in the world. Amongst its amazing sand dunes are spooky shipwrecks and unique wildlife. Further afield are a couple of sites that may turn out to be the highlight of your trip, the most renowned being the Etosha National Park and the Kalahari Desert.
Hazards & hassles
The cold water and numerous seals bring that most feared of predators, the Great White Shark. There's a big seal population out at Skeleton Bay and the lighthouse. A bigger danger is hitting the shallow reefs in town. Bogging your 4x4 out on the sand spit is always on the cards.
Handy Hints
Bring all the surf equipment you need with you, nothing is available here. For those who have interests beyond surfing, there is plenty of scope for exploration; Namibia’s best waves may be as yet unridden. Drive on the left.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.