One minute you’re driving along in the desert in the searing heat and all of a sudden you hit a coastal fog and the temperature drops 20 degrees.
Welcome to Swakopmund!
We’ve been to Namibia a couple of times now and Swakopmund is one of our favourite destinations in Africa to travel with kids. We love everything about it (including the best self-drive safari in Etosha) but we had a particularly fun time in Swakopmund with kids.
Here’s our guide to Swakopmund for families to help you plan your stay there. Make sure to read to the end to check out the places we recommend to stay in Swakopmund with kids and where to eat.
See also our our whole 2 week self-drive Namibia family holiday.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and book or buy something, we may earn a small commission but this is at no extra cost to you.
Things to do in Swakopmund with kids
Check out Swakopmund’s beach
Swakopmund has a beautiful coastline with wide, sandy beaches. You can either just relax or take part in one of the many activities on offer.
Bear in mind that the frequently encountered sea mist I mentioned before is more often seen in the morning and tends to burn off in the afternoon. You might want to consider this when planning your beach time.
We took an afternoon walk along the sea wall and witnessed a beautiful sunset. The kids loved watching the crashing waves on one side and spotted a few dolphins playing in the calmer water on the other side.
Things to do at the beach in Swakopmund:
- Head to the beach. For calmer water, stick to the public beach protected by the Swakopmund Mole (historic sea wall).
- Take a surf lesson (check out Salty Jackal)
- Take a stroll from the sea wall to the Swakopmund pier (a lovely sunset walk) ending with dinner at The Tug. There is a promenade if you don’t want to walk on the sand.
Living Desert Adventure
Heading into the Dorob National Park (part of the Namib Desert next to Swakopmund) by 4×4 to seek out tiny animals was probably one of the most interesting animal adventures we’ve had!
Our guide picked us up at the designated point on the edge of town and we spent 4 hours driving through sand dunes stopping every so often to find various desert adapted creatures.
These guys are so knowledgeable and it is incredible how they find the tiniest animal tracks to locate these elusive animals like the highly venemous sidewinder, webbed geckos and dancing white lady spiders.
There was also time at the end for the kids to have a play in the huge dunes.
We highly recommend this one! And if you can’t book that one then this one is also great (our friends tried it).
Take a sandboarding tour
With all those fabulous sand dunes around, it would be a shame not to give sandboarding a go! Our kids would say this is the most fun Swakopmund activities for kids.
In some ways sandboarding is easier than snowboarding. The fall is certainly softer. But the hike up the dunes with your board is hard work!
This is why we wouldn’t recommend it for really young kids. Our kids tried it when they were 8 and 10 and loved it.
You don’t need any previous experience to try it. You can even do lie-down sandboarding instead where you just lie on your stomach and slide head first down the slope!
You can contact Alter Action Sandboarding for more info.
You can do also sandboarding in the Namib Desert as part of this Quad Bike tour.
If you enjoy this experience, check out where our experience of family sandboarding in Morocco.
Visit Swakopmund Snake Park
The Living Desert Snake Park may not be everyone’s cup of tea but our kids are fascinated by snakes so there you go.
Fun fact – out of all of the 72 countries I have visited, I have seen the most snakes in the wild in Namibia! This is why I thought it would be good to get educated on the snakes native to Namibia.
It can be found at: 5 Libertina Amadhila Street, Swakopmund.
Drop in to Swakopmund Museum
Museums may not be your thing but Swakopmund Museum is small and a quick visit here gives you a great insight into Swakopmund.
You can learn the history of the area and it highlights the natural history of the region with fossils and specimens from the Namib Desert on display.
It can be found on Strand Street near the lighthouse.
Take a scenic flight over Swakopmund
The coastline by Swakopmund is so unique with sand dunes literally dropping off into the sea.
Seeing this from the air is just spectacular. We didn’t do this ourselves but know people who have tried it and they loved it.
It is obviously on the expensive side but would be a once in a lifetime experience.
You can find out more about a Swakopmund scenic flight here.
Take a fat bike desert tour
Taking a bike tour with kids is a much nicer way to see the desert in my opinion. Quad bikes are noisy and polluting (my kids will disagree!).
You can find the Swakopmund Fat Bike Tours at 6 Hendrik Witbooi Street, opposite Hansa Hotel.
Take a stroll around Swakopmund lighthouse
You can take a leisurely stroll around the lighthouse that was built in 1902, reading the informational plaques as you go. Its red and white stripes make it very photogenic.
There is also a kids’ playground close by where the kids can hang out for a bit.
It can be found on Strand Street near the museum.
Visit a desert gem store
Desert Gems is a quirky little store directly opposite the Hansa Hotel. We just stumbled across it and the kids loved it.
There are lots of gems from Namibia and if you’re into stones, they make a nice, small souvenir.
If your kids are into gemstones then you might want to also check out nearby Kristall Gallerie which has the largest quartz crystal cluster on display in the world.
Desert Gems can be found at 2 Hendrik Witbooi, Swakopmund.
Climb Dune 7
Dune 7 (named Dune 7 because it is the 7th dune you encounter after the Tsauchab River) is located just outside Swakopmund.
It is one of the tallest dunes in the Namib Desert. This giant sand dune stands at over 383 meters (1,257 feet) tall, making it a challenging yet fun climb for families with older children.
This is a great option if you don’t have time to make it down to Sossusvlei.
It costs around N$150 ($8) for adults and N$100 ($5) for kids aged 9-16.
It is best to head there in the morning when it is cooler. This will make the climb easier. You can take a picnic with you and sit and enjoy the view over lunch.
Have a round of mini golf in Swakopmund
If you’re looking for something to do between excursions, how about a round of mini golf (putt-putt)?
Swakopmund has a couple of options:
Things to do near Swakopmund
- Drive down to Walvis Bay to see the flamingoes (particularly good at sunset).
- Seal kayaking in Walvis Bay (absolutely amazing experience and so good, we did it twice!).
- 4×4 excursion to Sandwich Harbour Bay (Walvis Bay).
- Catamaran cruise to see the Big 5 (whale, dolphin, turtle, mola mola and seals).
Where is Swakopmund?
Swakopmund is a charming coastal town in Namibia situated about 350 kilometers (220 miles) west of the capital city, Windhoek.
It is very easy to reach from Windhoek. You just follow the A1 north out of Windhoek then take the B2 west towards the coast. The whole route is a good quality paved road. It should take a little under 4 hours.
Background on Swakopmund
Swakopmund is one of Namibia’s most popular tourist destinations, offering a unique blend of German colonial architecture (check out the Hansa Hotel), stunning natural landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.
The town’s colonial past is still visible in its well-preserved architecture, from the Swakopmund Lighthouse to the Alte Fest (Old Fort).
Swakopmund lies on the coast of Namibia and the climate is affected by the cold Benguela current. Temperatures are noticeably lower on the coast than inland Namibia.
If you haven’t left for your Namibian holiday yet, make sure to pack some warm clothes.
Is it better to stay in Swakopmund or Walvis Bay?
We asked ourselves this question. They are 30km apart and if you are doing activities that require an early start, then you are best staying in the town where the activity departs from.
We stayed in both Swakopmund and Walvis Bay in the end for this reason.
Walvis Bay still has a small holiday resort feel to it with a couple of decent restaurants (The Raft and Anchors).
Swakopmund has more going on with more accommodation and restaurant choices.
Where to eat in Swakopmund with kids
There are lots of family-friendly places to eat in Swakopmund but our favourite ones are:
- The Tug – Located by The Jetty (pier). Great portions and lots for kids. Sit outside on the deck for great sunset views.
- Swakopmund Brauhaus – traditional Namibian food (lots of meat!). Right next to public beach.
- Altstadt Restaurant – informal dining, traditional food with outdoor seating.
Family accommodation in Swakopmund
Hansa Hotel
For us, the only hotel we wanted to stay at in Swakopmund with kids was the Hansa Hotel. It is the oldest hotel in Namibia and just deserved our booking for that reason alone.
It has a faded colonial charm about it. Admittedly it has seen better days but the room was clean and perfectly comfortable. We had a 2-bedroom suite. The breakfast was excellent.
There was parking outside the hotel and it was central enough to walk everywhere.
The Strand
If you’re looking for a more upmarket place in town with a range of dining options then you may prefer The Strand.
It is right on the sea front and many rooms have a sea view.
We hope you found this Swakopmund with kids guide helpful. Drop us a line if you have any specific questions about your family trip to Swakopmund.
