It's Hard to believe that more than five centuries ago Portuguese sailors caught sight of the empty sands of Namibia's coast and sailed away, never to return.
Today visiting Europeans, who can't find a single metre of beach at home that is not occupied by an oiled compatriot baking under a beach umbrella, will think they are either time travelling, already in heaven...or holidaying on Namibia's Atlantic Coast.
From Luderlitz in the far South all the way north to the skeleton coast, Namibia's Riviera is lined with endless sandy beaches, ponctuated by fascinating towns and settlements. Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, the largest of these, offer dozens of activities to visitors all year round. For a tempting respite after travelling in the Namib, the temperature on Namibia's Riviera is much cooler than in the desert.
Namibia's Coast offers sunbathers, anglers, walkers and horse riders remote stretches of sand as well as beaches with sevices nearby.
Swakopmund, the public beaches are close to restaurants, swimming pools, hotels, and shops, while the more isolated beach at Landstand Holiday Resort, owned by the city of Walvis Bay, offers tidal pools and wide beaches with facilities on site.
North of Swakopmund dozens of kilometres of undisturbed beaches attract campers and anglers.
Hotels on the rapidly developing north side of Swakopmund, and in the little town of Henties Bay and Cape Cross, are ideal for those wanting to take long walks or go fishing in remote areas. Camping areas are situated between Walvis Bay and the Skeleton Coast Park allow travellers to enjoy their own private stretch of beach.
The Namibian Coast is paradise for ecotourism.
Luderitz, an isolated and Mysterious coastal town in the south, is home to a variety of aquatic birds, seals, dolphins and some of the best seafood in Namibia.
While is windy beaches and ocean are usually too cold for anyone other than the most intrepid of Swimmers, they are unspoiled, with ever-changing colours and light patterns.
Sandwich Harbour, about 50 km south of Walvis Bay, an Unusual fresh water lagoon, is a bird sanctuary overlooked by massive dunes.
Legend has it that before silt cut off acces to the Sea, a trasure ship ran aground and lies buried somewhere in the mountains of sand.
Nature lovers outnumber fortune hunters as the primary visitors to Sandwich harbour.
Acces is only by four-wheel drive vehicle and a permit is requiered.
Boat tours out of the port of Walvis Bay take visitors into Walvis Bay Lagoon, the most important wetland for coastal birds in Southers Africa.
Often departing in dense morning fog, the boats cruise to view flamingos, dolphins, seals, and also the wonderful and eccentric bird Island, a man-made guano attol. Before returning to port, most boats put to anchor to offer fresh Namibian oysters and sparkling wine to sailors in glittering sunlight.
The Cape Cross Seal Reserve , 130km north of Swakopmund, is unparalleded on the coast of Southern Africa-up to 250 000 seals congregate on the rocky outcrop, diving in and out of the water to hunt for fish.
Hundreds of birds fly overhead, while jackals on the hunt can be seen slipping in amongst the teeming mass.
Visitors are able to get close-up look at and a whiff of the aroma of-this incredibly crowded animal colony as the seals fish, mate, give birth and sun themselves on the rocks.
The crown of Namibia's shoreline is the Skeleton Coast Park a 16 400 square kilometre national park with controlled entry, known for its 500 km of protected coastline, where visitors may see ship-wrecks and soaring sand dunes, along with extraordinary animals and wildlife.
Swakopmund, founded more than a century ago by German settlers, is quaint and thriving. From Swakopmund it's possible to sign up for a camel or horse-back ride into the desert, take a beach buggy excursion to the beach, or set off on a safari.
Quad biking in the extraordinary dune belt between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay is not only great fun, but offers a memorable viw of Namibia's 1 100-km coastline.
No matter where on Namibia's Riviera you travel there is something extraordinary to experience.
DON'T MISSE IT!
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