Luderitz in southern Namibia is isolated on a wild and windy shore - it is surrounded by the Namib Desert and has only one road in, yet, the harbour town of Luderitz has a quiet charm under cobalt blue skies. All visitors to this coastal town in Namibia are encouraged to walk around and have a look at the colonial buildings and brightly coloured German Art Deco style architecture, which is so at odds with the extremely rocky Atlantic coastline of southern Namibia.
There are a number of restaurants in Luderitz, Namibia, where you can enjoy the bounty of the sea with lip smacking feasts on rock lobster, mussels and even oysters. Out and about you can enjoy wonderful walks on Agate Beach just north of Luderitz, take a drive to the Peninsula or go on a nice harbour cruise in Luderitz, Namibia. The waters of the Atlantic Ocean in Namibia are cold and clean which encourages rich marine and birdlife.
Highlights include the Felsenkirche, Goerke Huis (House) and Luderitz Museum which gives information on diamond mining, indigenous peoples, life in the Namib Desert and facts on fishing and marine life.
A popular excursion from Luderitz is an early morning trip to Halifax Island and the Jackass Penguin colony. Fur seals and dolphins often swim alongside the boat and the cold, but exhilarating morning air is invigorating in good weather.
Agate Beach is a few minutes north of Luderitz, Namibia, and a wonderful place for walks and digging for treasure. If you'd like to take home your very own, totally unique Desert Rose, then you would first need to obtain an inexpensive digging permit and the services of a guide from the Nature Conservation Office. Together, you can explore the beach and find a sand rose which is made from crystallised gypsum.
For a scenic drive in Luderitz you can go around the lagoon which is busy with lots of birdlife including pink flamingos, towards the Peninsula. En route you pass picturesque bays and unspoilt beaches in a protected area. At Diaz Point you will be on the spot where Bartholomew Diaz first landed in Southern Africa. Even further you can see Bogenfels which is a famous rock arch.
The Sperrgebiet (an off-limits diamond region in Namibia) occupies a large area of the southern Namib Desert. It is larger than Wales and situated right next to Luderitz. An old settlement within it is Kolmanskop, a remarkable town that sprang to life in 1908 when diamonds were discovered in this barren and sandy place in Namibia.
An astonishing amount of stones were extracted from Kolmanskop and nearby Elizabeth Bay. Fortune seekers descended and within 2 years Kolmanskop was a booming town complete with elegant homesteads, a hospital, butchery, bakery and factories for making furniture, ice, soda water and lemonade. There was a lively '20s culture in town with a casino, skittle alley and even a swimming pool!