Cornerstone Guesthouse

Area

Swakopmund is a quaint town reflecting much of Namibia’s colonial past in its architecture. Set at the mouth of the Swakop River, the town was developed by the German colonialists as the harbour from which it could develop the colony (nearby, the deep-water harbour of Walvis Bay had been excluded from the treaty as it had already been annexed by Britain). However, its life as a harbour town was short lived and in 1915, when the Union of South Africa took over the protectorate, all shipping was transferred to Walvis Bay. The town suffered greatly but found its salvation in the holiday industry. Later, the discovery of uranium at Rossing, some 70kms away, transformed the town allowing it to grow into what it is today.

Walvis Bay nearby is also worth visiting, particularly for bird watchers where the mudflats attract a wide range of waders.

Sandwich Harbour is a spectacular stretch of coast some 50 kms south of Walvis Bay. Here, fresh water seepage points exude from the huge dunes to create a brackish wetland separated from the sea by an extensive beach. Birds flock to the region and jackals can be seen scavenging the area.

Activities

Various guided tours are available from Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The highly informative Sheltering Desert Tour explores life in the astonishing Namib and focusses on trying to see the small reptiles, birds and insects which thrive there – desert chameleon, sidewinder adder, shovel-snouted lizard, palmato gecko, Grey’s lark and the track-track chat to name but a few.

The Living Desert Adventure is an exciting educational tour that explores the local dunes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, and the abundance of life therein. Geckos, rolling spiders, scorpions, lizards, snakes, chameleons and skinks are some creatures to be found on this tour.

Or head inland on a Welwitschia Moon landscape tour which takes you eastwards from Swakopmund into the Namib Desert along the banks of the Swakop River. The river has carved out deep canyons into the granite rock, producing spectacular landscapes known as the Moon landscape. This tour focuses on geology, desert adapted plant life (oldest living plant Welwitschia mirabilis), and animals big and small. Or you can combine it all in a full day Desert Extravaganza tour!

Most desert species are active after dark and three hour Desert Night Walks are also available out of Swakopmund (min 4 participants). This is an excellent opportunity to see many of the nocturnal species which won’t be seen during the day – scorpions, a variety of geckos, Brush-tailed gerbils and genets. This tour can also be done as an extension to an afternoon tour.

Excursions to the remote birding mecca of Sandwich Harbour are a highlight of the region and include a dramatic drive (four wheel drive required – self-drive not recommended) along the beach and over sand dunes, providing a wonderful experience of this section of the ‘Skeleton Coast’.

At Walvis Bay you can join dolphin and seal watching cruises to Pelican Point (or even kayak safaris) and although quite expensive, scenic air safaris are available along the coast. It is also possible to undertake quad-biking and dune boarding in the sand dunes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

Seasons

Although you can visit Namibia year-round, the best time to travel is late April to early November.

Children of all ages are welcome at Cornerstone Guesthouse, and they have three family rooms that have space for extra beds. Older children can take their own room.