Swakopmund: more than meets the eye

If you visit the coast this year try something different. Enjoy the dunes and the sea and do fish, but surely there is more.



Adrenalin-pumping one-stop-shop

Make use of Desert Explorers and you can expect to be enthralled by their huge selection of adventure tours. It doesn’t matter what level of adrenaline-junkie you are, they are likely to have an activity that suits your needs and ensures you of a unique Namibian experience.

Choose among quad-biking, camel rides, dolphin cruises, skydiving, sandboarding, explorer tours, kayaking, paragliding, go-karting and so much more. Their offices are found right on the fringe of the town as you drive to Walvis Bay.



Overcome your fear

Start your skydiving journey with Skychology Skydiving Academy's Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) or Static Line (SL) courses. AFF offers a fast-track program with ten levels, guiding beginners to fully qualified skydivers. The first jump involves two instructors, free-falling from 12000 feet, and subsequent levels transition to solo jumps. Franc Kros, the academy's founder, with vast experience, oversees the training.

Skychology Skydiving Academy focuses on solo training, while Ground Rush Adventures facilitates tandem jumps. Skydiving from 12000 feet (more than 3500 metres) is initially daunting, but ultimately a life-changing experience, according to those, who have participated.

The SL course entails a parachute jump, where the parachute is triggered as you jump from the plane – the parachute opens and you are able to perform a solo descent and landing. Danelle Coetzee, co-owner of Skychology, emphasizes changing the traditionally male-dominated skydiving culture, with approximately 75% of students being female.

Mai Jawadah, the first female from the Gaza Strip to receive an international skydiving license, underscores overcoming challenges. Skychology Skydiving Academy operates from scenic drop zones and boasts highly qualified instructors with international accreditations.

Ground Rush Adventures recently performed a display jump for mental health awareness as part of an event. The mayor of Swakopmund accepted the challenge, promoting mental health awareness by skydiving tandem. The experience challenges fear and encourages individuals to engage in adventurous activities for improved mental well-being. Contact Ground Rush Adventures at [email protected] or Skychology Skydive Academy at [email protected] to embark on this exhilarating journey.



Namib Desert Scenic Flights

Eagle Eye Aviation is a well-established flight and activity operator in Swakopmund run by the Botha brothers. Book an exclusive and luxurious scenic flight to coastal highlights such as the Sossusvlei, Cape Cross with its seal colonies or the Skeleton Coast and enjoy the wonders along the Skeleton Coast with its ship wrecks, the Kuiseb Canyon and many more.

Get to see Namibia from a bird's eye view - an unforgettable experience!



Desert tour with Chris Nel

To the untrained eye the dunes of the Namib Desert between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund appear impressive but somewhat lifeless. One will be surprised though, how diverse and rich in species this eco-system actually is, given the chance to view the desert through the eyes of a real Namibian expert. Chris Nel invites you to an interesting and surprising half-day tour into the Namib. Being the energetic environmentalist and nature conservationist, which he is, he has been actively engaged in the protection of the Namib Desert for years.

He is able to depict this complicated system with such didactic finesse that kids will also be fascinated of his desert tour. With charisma and lots of humour Chris Nel explains the flora and fauna of the desert world around Swakopmund. Starting with a short excursion to the mouth of the Swakop River, the tour continues on a small path into the Dorob National Park, where he explains how this worldwide unique desert system is functioning, while showing you the wonders of this harsh world.