National West Coast Recreation Area in Namibia

Tourist Attractions North of Swakopmund at Namibia's Western Coast

Aug 19, 2009

The area north of Swakopmund is littered with tourist attractions including salt mines, shipwrecks, lagoons and oil rigs as well as the Skeleton Coast National Park.

Taking the C34 northwards from Swakopmund, tourists travel on a road containing a mixture of brine and gravel. The local people refer to the road as the salt road and in wet conditions, the road becomes slippery and dangerous to the unwary. Several tourist attractions along the 200-kilometer long road, makes taking the long journey worthwhile.

Swakopmund Salt Works and Wetland Area

Approximately 7 kilometers north of Swakopmund, the Swakopmund Salt Works obscure a travelers view of the ocean. Although the salt works and Oyster Company are not open to the public, a few dirt roads around the works offer visitors some insight into the workings of the company.

Since 1952, the Swakopmund Salt Works company pumped seawater into open evaporation and concentration ponds. Mechanical scrapers then remove the crystallized salt after which the salt is treated to eliminate further impurities. These ponds are outside the fenced-off area of the salt works and tourists drive past them to get to the beach. Depending on the amount of evaporation that already took place, the color of the water in these ponds vary from blue to pink.

The area around the salt works is also an important wetland area, which draws scores of flamingos during the year. Other bird species found here include the great crested and black- necked grebes and a variety of waders. According to Willie and Sandra Olivier in An African Adventurers Guide to Namibia, Struik Publishers, 2003, bird watchers can take a pre-booked tour of the wetlands and arrangements can be made by calling (064) 404015 during the afternoons.

Mr. Paul Wlotzka erected a beacon 32 kilometers north of Swakopmund, to indicate the halfway mark for his horse travels between Henties Bay and Swakopmund in the early 1930's. He proceeded to also erect a temporary structure as house and due to the popularity of the area with local fishermen, the settlement of Wlotzkasbaken was established.

All the houses are self sufficient in respect of water, electricity and services. Currently the legal battle between the Erongo Regional Council who wants to develop and place the town under the Council's administration and the Home Owner's Association of Wlotzkasbaken, who wants to keep the unique character and ambiance of the town intact, has been temporarily settled by an order of the Supreme Court of Namibia.

There are no tourist facilities in Wlotzkasbaken, but the town is worth a visit to view the way the townspeople are self sufficient in the harsh desert conditions.

The Skeleton Coast Park in Namibia

Traveling further north on the C34, tourist pass the popular fishing and holiday town of Henties Bay. After 18 kilometers , the turnoff to the Cape Cross Seal Reserve is on the left. The mouth of the Ugab River is another 34 kilometers north and signals the southern boundary of the Skeleton Coast Park.

An entrance fee is payable to enter the park and permits must be obtained at the gate before 15h00 in the afternoon. Once inside the Skeleton Coast Park and approximately 16 kilometers from the Ugab River, a sign marks the place where a fishing vessel, the Atlantic Pride, ran aground. Several pieces of wreckage are still visible on the beach and afford tourists wonderful photo opportunities.

About 10 kilometers before reaching Toscanini, the rusty remains of an oil rig provides a nesting ground for a colony of Cape Cormorants. These birds attract predators like the black backed jackal and brown hyena. An ambitious entrepreneur erected the oil rig structure before the park was proclaimed and it now lies derelict against the desert backdrop.

Part of the Skeleton Coast Park's attraction to tourists are the diversity of fauna and flora. Several delicate lichens species as well as the black and white Damara Tern that nests in there, attract tourists from all over the world. This sensitive ecosystem is currently under threat of extinction due to the inconsiderate driving habits of some tourist driving over the lichens which takes several decades to recover.

No accommodation is available or overnight stay permitted in the Skeleton Coast Park, except for tourists with pre - booked accommodation at Torra Bay (only open during December and January) or Terrace Bay. Tourists can exit the park through the Springbokwasser gate and drive further to explore the jewels of Damaraland or return via the same entrance gate and find accommodation either in the campsites administered by the Namibia Wildlife Resorts or in several guest houses at Henties Bay.

The copyright of the article National West Coast Recreation Area in Namibia in Namibia Travel is owned by Yolande Pienaar. Permission to republish National West Coast Recreation Area in Namibia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.