Why Tourists Travel to Swakopmund, Namibia
Visit the Iron Jetty, Mole, Aquarium and Tractor in Swakopmund
Jul 17, 2009
During the African summer holidays in December and January, thousands of tourists, both local and international, flock to the small coastal town of Swakopmund in Namibia. Even Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spent months just outside the town at Langstrand, to await the birth of their baby daughter.
The Mole in Swakopmund
A mole is an artificial harbor and the increasing need to supply horses and other equipment to the German orientated Swakopmund, caused the authorities to start construction on the Swakopmund Mole in September 1899. Huge concrete blocks, each weighing more than 300 kilograms were deposited into the sea to create an artificial harbor where rafts and boats could safely off-load their cargo.
Governor Friedrich von Lindequist opened the Swakopmund Mole Harbor in February 1903 and the importation of goods was made easier. However, the tides of the Benquela current deposited vast amounts of silt at the harbor opening and by July 1904 boats and rafts could only enter the harbor during high tide. Barely a year after coming into operation, landing operations at the Swakopmund Mole was suspended in favor of using the wooden jetty.
Today the area of the Swakopmund Mole is a popular tourist attraction as it affords a sheltered beach, palmed walkways and various shops and restaurants.
The Iron Jetty at Swakopmund
Besides the numerous historical German-built buildings in Swakopmund, anglers and tourists enjoy taking a walk along the jetty, from where one has a panoramic view over the shoreline of Namibia. At the entrance to the jetty, two of the original 'stamper' drill bits used to construct the jetty, are mounted and displayed for public scrutiny.
In need of a place to off - load boats and rafts carrying cargo to the desert ridden country, the 2nd Eisenbahnbaukompagnie started building a wooden jetty in October 1904 and completed the 275-meter long and 9 meter wide jetty in April 1905. Due the volume of goods delivered through the jetty, the people extended the length of the wooden jetty by 50 meters and its width by 5 meters in 1907.
The spring tide and ship worm (Teredo Navalis), however, caused extensive damage to the wooden pillars and in 1912 the construction of a steel jetty was finished. Although the planned jetty would have been 640 meters long and equipped with two five-ton cranes, two three-ton cranes and a railroad, the completed jetty was only 262 meters long and before completion the First World War broke out. The cranes and railroad never materialized. Heavy rains in 1934 moved the shoreline to beyond the jetty and the jetty became an angler and tourist paradise. No maintenance was done on the jetty and in 1983, the structure of the jetty became unsafe, resulting in the closure of the structure to the public.
Subsequently the jetty has been restored and set open to the public since 2006. Today the northern side of the jetty is reserved for anglers. No visit to Swakopmund is complete without taking a walk over the ocean on a jetty with such rich history.
Swakopmund National Marine Aquarium
Situated in Strand Street South the Swakopmund Aquarium is worth a visit. The main attraction is an underwater glass tunnel through the oval - shaped 12 meter by 8-meter main tank. Tourists should try to time their visits to the aquarium to coincide with the feeding of the fish by divers at around 1500. The Aquarium can be contacted at 0026 64 405744.
Martin Luther Steam Tractor
Outside Swakopmund alongside the B2 road, a small National Monument displays a steam traction engine, which was imported by Lieutenant Edmund Troost from Germany in 1896. This is an example of the first mechanical means of transport in the German colony of South West Africa. The tractor broke down about 1.5 kilometers outside Swakopmund and was left to its own devices.
Legend has it that during a night of excessive alcohol intake, Dr. Max Rhode named the engine Martin Luther as according to him, the engine could also state, "Here I stand and, I could not do otherwise." Although misquoted, the name stuck and after years of neglect, the engine is on display today as one of Namibia's National Monuments.
Besides historical buildings, museums and national monuments, Swakopmund offers the tourist several other sights to explore and things to do like angling, quad bike riding in the Namib desert, nature walks, riding a camel, climbing Dune 7, boat rides and pleasure flights. Spending a week or two at least in the area is advised in order to experience everything Swakopmund has to offer.
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