Beach & Coast in Namibia
A German-era port on the desert coast
Lüderitz is a small German colonial town on the Atlantic coast, with pastel-coloured buildings and the Felsenkirche on the hill. It sits at the end of a desert road, between the cold sea and the Namib sand sea, and the sense of being at the edge of the world is part of its charm.
Nearby Kolmanskop is the ghost town of a diamond rush from 1908. The houses, once grand, are now half-filled with sand, and the light that streams through the broken windows draws photographers from around the world. Close by are Diaz Point, Agate Mountain, flamingos and penguins on the peninsula, and the Namib Sand Sea, a World Heritage Site.
It is a remote and rewarding detour for photographers, history lovers and travellers who like places that few reach.
The Lüderitz peninsula has colonies of African penguins and Cape fur seals at Diaz Point and Halifax Island, along with flamingos in the lagoon. Dolphins swim in the bay, and gemsbok and springbok roam the surrounding desert.
Look out for
Pastel-coloured colonial buildings on a rocky shore, dunes spilling into abandoned houses, and a cold, grey Atlantic.
Activities here
Lüderitz is cool and windy, with daytime temperatures of 20°C to 25°C, strong southerly winds and mist off the sea. Rain is very rare.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24 | 15 | 3 |
| Feb | 24 | 15 | 5 |
| Mar | 24 | 15 | 6 |
| Apr | 23 | 14 | 5 |
| May | 22 | 13 | 4 |
| Jun | 21 | 12 | 4 |
| Jul | 20 | 11 | 3 |
| Aug | 20 | 11 | 3 |
| Sep | 20 | 12 | 2 |
| Oct | 21 | 13 | 2 |
| Nov | 22 | 14 | 2 |
| Dec | 23 | 15 | 2 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
The town is dry all year. The winter months of May to August have calmer days and clear skies.
Rain is very rare, though fog and mist can persist for days. The wind is strongest from September to March.
May to August is the calmest time, with the clearest weather for Kolmanskop. The wind in summer can be strong, but the light is lovely.
Best time to visit Jun to Sep
Lüderitz is about 800 kilometres from Windhoek, a drive of nine to ten hours, or 350 kilometres from Aus. There is a small airport with flights from Windhoek. It is a long detour from the main circuit, so we plan it carefully.
Permits for Kolmanskop and the diamond area are arranged in advance and are included in our safaris. Visitors from many countries, including the UK and US, need a Namibian visa, which can be applied for online or on arrival (about N$1,600 at the time of writing).
Lüderitz is cool, windy and dry. The area is remote, so bring warm layers and sunscreen. There is no malaria.
Scenic AreaSossusvlei and the NamibThe world's tallest red dunes
National ParkEtosha National ParkWaterholes that draw everything in
RegionDamaralandDesert elephants and ancient rock art
National ParkSkeleton CoastFog, shipwrecks and roaring seal colonies
City & TownSwakopmundSeaside town between dunes and ocean
City & TownWindhoekNamibia's small, friendly capitalOur take
“Our take”
Plan a morning at Kolmanskop, when the light is soft and the sand has not blown in yet, and give Luderitz one night.
Safaris from
US$3,666 per person
Plan your time in Luderitz and Kolmanskop
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Made to measure
Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.
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