Steam Mobile "Martin Luther"
This
curiosity from the times of the ox-wagon before the introduction of the
railway stands at the B2 a few kilometres before Swakopmund. The wealthy
Schutztruppe officer Troost imported the steam engine in 1896 from
Germany. The vehicle with a weight of 1.4 tons was meant to go to
Windhoek, but got stuck in the sand straightaway. The people called the
engine "Martin Luther" because he once said "Here I stand and can't do
otherwise. God help me. Amen!" The engine was restored in 2004 and is
exhibited indoors in order to protect it from the harsh extremes of the
desert climate.
Welwitchia Drive
"Welwitschia
Mirabilis" is the most famous Namibian plant. Most specimen are about
1000 years old, some even older. 1859 the "living fossil" was discovered
by the Austrian botanist Dr. Welwitsch and named after him. The
Welwitschia plant only grows two leaves, which over time get slightly
shredded by the wind. The desert plant belongs to the succulents, i.e.
is able to store water. It takes the water it needs for growing from the
air.
Welwitschias
occur exclusively in the central part of the Namib, between 40 and 120
kilometres off the coast. This unique plant can be found along the
sign-posted Welwitschia Drive in the Namib Naukluft Park. Behind the
steam engine "Martin Luther" you turn off the B2 on to the C28. After
17km turn left on the D1991. The drive leads through the bizarre and
bare "Moon Landscape" along the Swakop River. About 450 million years
ago layers of soft stone were deposited here and over the ages the river
eroded its bed in them.
A
permit is required for the Welwitchia Drive. One can buy it for 50N$
per person at the tourism office in the "Ritterburg", Knight's Castle.
The stretch is some 160 km long, and one should plan half a day for it.
Old Railwaystation
It was just 35 years ago when the last train was leaving to Windhoek from the plattform which is today a nice restaurant. Since these days the railwaystation was renovated and changed to a senior class restaurant and hotel. A Casion and night club was also included and now you can spend there long hours.
Hohenzollernhaus
This nice house was built in 1906 as a neobaroque hotel. In the meantime it was used as a brothel and today lucky owners of there condominiums live there. Corner Tobias Hainyeko Street/ Libertina Amathila Avenue.
Crystal Gallery
This treasure chest of the namibian rock univers is located at Tobias Hainyeko Street.
Crystal quarters at the entrance show potential visitors the way. The world biggest crystalaggregat, over 520 mio. years old, is shown here and a must-see for all visitors.
National Marine Aquarium
Because there are no good oppurtunities for diving at the namibian coasts, the fishes of namibia have come to land. A
special attraction herfor is the Aquarium of Swakopmund, opened in 1995. It
shows the marine life along the coast of Namibia in a couple of huge
seawater basins - the biggest having a volume of 350 cubic metres. Among
many other fish species, stingrays and sharks can be seen. Daily at 3
o'clock pm the fishes are being hand-fed by divers. Very impressive! The
aquarium lies in Strand Street und is open daily - except mondays -
from 10am to 4pm. Tel (0)64-4101000.
Swakopmund museum and Sam Cojem Library
Thi museum is a real reservoir for the history of Namibia: Collections of the colonial history and from the daily live of the people. Dioramas to the deserts and oceans, herbaria withe the flora of the desert and the native wildlive. Mineralcollections and explinations to the local uranium mining,
Swakopmund Lighthouse
The
Lighthouse was built in 1902 and is 21 metres high. The museum next to
the lighthouse shows interesting exhibits of the local history.