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Namibia

We arrived this morning, December 3, 2022, after three days at sea from Sao Tome to Walvis Bay, Namibia. While cruising the three days at sea we crossed the Equator. Crossing the Equator at sea marks a well established and time honored tradition, initiated by many navy Captains across the world to boost the morale and camaraderie during many arduous days at sea.

Departing the ship we find a young seal at bow of the ship at the water line resting. Walvis Bay is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies. It is the second largest city in Namibia and the largest coastal city in the country. The city covers a total area of 11 sqare miles of land.

The bay is a safe haven for sea vessels because of its natural deep-water harbour, protected by the Pelican Point sand spit, being the only natural harbour of any size along the country's coast.

Being rich in plankton and marine life, these waters also drew large numbers of southern right whales, attracting whalers and fishing vessels.

Large numbers of local flamingos abound as do sand dunes south of the city.

Large numbers of local flamingos abound as do sand dunes south of the city.

What a difference in Namibia and the other countries we have been visiting. It is so clean and the buildings are very modern in most cases. The streets are well paved and clean of debris.

Walvis Bay, with its large bay and sand dunes, is an important center of tourism activity in Namibia. We passed by beautiful neighborhoods of homes along the bay side.

Massive huge industrial buildings manufacturing and creating thousands of jobs for the locals. In March 2018 the Namibian government in association with French Group PSA signed an investment agreement to initiate a joint-venture to assemble Opel and Peugeot vehicles in Walvis Bay.

Just outside of Walvis Bay is Sand Dune 7. One of the highest dunes in the area for hiking and sledding down the sand in the area. The sand dunes, some of which are 980 feet high.

People trekking up the Sand Dune. I have done this before in other locations around the world. It is fun. I was lazy today to just sit back and watch everyone get hot and sweaty.

We next drove to Swakopmund, It is a city on the coast of western Namibia about an hours drive from Walvis Bay. ,

Local businesses as we drove into town. All modern and new.

The town has 44,725 inhabitants and covers 76 square miles of land.

The city is situated at the edge of the Namib Desert and is the fourth largest population center in Namibia. The Namib desert may be the oldest desert in the world and contains some of the world's driest regions. The Namib stretches for more than 1,200 miles along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, extending southward from the Carunjamba River in Angola, through Namibia and to the Olifants River in Western Cape, South Africa.

We stopped at a Kristall Galerie. Wow.. what a place. The Kristall Galerie is the result of a man of passion, enthusiasm and vision, Johannes Adolf Kleynhans. What started out as a hobby, collecting stones and revise them, became a lifelong desire to collect the beautiful gems God created.

The Kristall Galerie, founded in 1998, has been designed for you to share in and discover some of the earth's most beautiful masterpieces - a fascinating display of crystals and gemstones.

Home of the World's largets Quartz crystal cluster on display. Unfortunately we were not allowed to photograph the largest of all the crystals. It is massive. higher than a normal ceiling.

Many of the crystals are studied and made into exquisite jewelry available for purchase. Some crystals weigh up to 14 tons.

The town has wide streets, with modern buildings. It such a 180 difference that what we have been seeing in Africa in the previous countries visited the the last two weeks.

Swakopmund, a seaside resort that resembles a Bavarian Village. The Germans were immigrants here from the early 19th century. The towns early colonial past are reflected in a number of older buildings preserved in the downtown areas.

The downtown seemed busy with cars and people in all directions. After Namibian independence from South Africa in 1990 many street names were changed from their original German, or in some cases, Afrikaans names, to honor Namibians, predominantly Namibians of black heritage.

This is a clever sign with a giraffe sticking its head out the window with the name of the business. Talk about an attention getter.

The pier at the beach makes for a nice walk along the beach and then onto the pier.

Swakopmund Lighthouse, located opposite of Municipal gardens, was opened in July 1902. The Lighthouse is still in operation, guiding ships with its light seen as far as from 35 nautical miles. One of the most prominent Swakopmund's landmarks.

Play area for kids at the beach area.

Great sandy beach.

The Swakopmund Museum is run by the Scientific Society Swakopmund. It is the largest privately run museum in Namibia and a favourite amongst locals and guests. On display are various types of indigenous plants, animals, minerals, an archaeological exhibition, the transport system of old and a variety of cultural historical objects. One of a kind and educational is the exhibition “People of Namibia.” It focuses on the traditional heritage of the different ethnic groups of Namibia. I found it very interesting.

Walking from the Museum along the beach area are a number of condos and on the first floor some good looking restaurants for relaxing and dining. A very nice area development for the beach area.

A number of developments along the beach area.

I am sure in these condos there are a number of rentals for the summer months

The buoys are placed in the beach area to warn swimmers not to go beyond as the water depth falls deeper in the area for those that are non swimmers. Warning buoys.

Another view of the pier from the beach area and condo and restaurant area.

An area set aside at the beach area to purchase lots of locally made items. Some were pretty unique.

This part of Southern Africa is much more advanced, opportunities for education, and maintained cleaner than we were have seen in the last several weeks. I am sure this trip has been a wake up call for many aboard this ship, from countries around the world seeing extreme poverty and lack of opportunities many of us have been accustomed to in our daily lives. ,

Last chance to purchase an item from Namibia at the dock area. We set sail from Walvis Bay, Namibia for Cape Town, South Africa our last stop on this incredible Regent ocean voyage from Lisbon, Portugal to Cape Town, South Africa.

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© 2025 Jim Schroder