Swakopmund

There really is something for everyone in Africa. Whether you're a music lover, art enthusiast, cuisine connoisseur, bird watcher, big game spotter, camper, glamper, observer or adrenaline junkie, it's all here in Africa. And if you're the latter then Swakopmund is the place for you... all adrenaline all the time.

Now better known as the birthplace of Shiloh Jolie Pitt, Swakop is also to Namibia what Livingstone is to Zambia - the adventure capital of a country otherwise predominantly defined by the visual. Originally it was established as a colonial German port during the darker days of Namibia when Germany and England were still tussling over who would control the country. Swakopmund, however, became redundant when the South Africans eventually took power in 1915, decided the English port at Walvis Bay down south was the superior of the two, relocated all shipping activities there, and essentially left Swakopmund as a ghost town.

By stroke of genius someone realized that the surrounding sand dunes were just as valuable an asset to the town as the ocean lapping it, and so rebranded Swakopmund as an adventure-lovers paradise. Now, if the nightlife doesn't rob you of your daylight hours, you can wake up to a choice of skydiving, sand boarding, quad biking, paragliding, horse riding, whale watching, surfing and many other blood-pumping activities. With just one day to fill I opted for sand boarding and quad biking to really get amongst the dunes.

But first there was the nightlife...

Hugs for Harvey

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