Walvis Bay (2)

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In 1971, as the liberation struggle inside Namibia battled on, South Africa transferred their control over Walvis Bay back to its Cape Province.
However in 1977, when a SWAPO led government threatened control of the bay, the South Africans administration reasserted its claim of sovereignty over Walvis Bay.


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In 1990, independence was achieved by the Namibian people, yet Walvis Bay remained under South African sovereignty.
Finally, in 1994, sovereignty over Walvis Bay was properly transferred to a SWAPO led government.


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Walvis Bay (1)

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Development of Walvis Bay first occurred when the British annexed the area in 1878 as part of the Cape colony.
The Bay served two purposes: to deter German ambitions in the area and to ensure a safe passage of Britain ships around the Cape.


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In 1910, the Cape colony and Walvis Bay were annexed to the newly formed Union of South Africa.
Germany questioned the bay's actual boundaries and when settled in 1911, Walvis Bay totaled an area of 434 sq. miles (1.124 sq. km).
During the First World War, Germany made an attempt to regain Walvis Bay but by 1915 the South Africans retained full control over the area.
Walvis Bay quickly integrated into the apartheid policies of the ruling regime when the League of Nations mandated the South Africans to administer South West Africa like they would South Africa.


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Swakopmund, The Jetty

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The Jetty, build in 1905, was originally wooden but over the years rough water, weather and woodworms eventually destroyed the structure.
In 1911, the wooden structure had plans to be replaced by a 500 m iron jetty but when the nation transferred power to the South Africans in 1916, the initial construction of the iron pier was left desolate and uncompleted.


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In 1986 the pier was restored to what you see today and continues to be open to the public.
The original lighthouse was built as a much smaller structure than what you see today.
Due to its position on the western end of the mole, it was destroyed by a gigantic wave soon after construction.
The current lighthouse was built in 1903 and stands 11 m tall.
The designers placed this beacon on higher ground, away from the sea.


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Swakopmund, Sports & Outdoor Activities (2)

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Ground Rush Adventures Sky Dive
The scenery while free falling towards the ground is unmatched to anywhere in the world.
The drop zone is just outside of Swakopmund, with rich sights of the Atlantic and the sea of sand high above.
In business since 1980, the quality of skydiving is the best to be found in all Africa, but that's not really saying a whole lot, it's still an African company and safety standards are a bit lower than what you may be accustomed.
www.skydiveswakop.com.na

Okakambe Horse Trail
The horse tours take you through the Swakop River or into the Moon Landscape.
Sunrise or Sunset Tours and multi-day trips are available.



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Tours, surrounding areas
If you are traveling without a vehicle, tours are the best way to get to the sights you came to see.
Tour companies offer services to the Moon Landscape, the Welwitschia Drive, Cape Cross, Spitzkoppe and to Walvis Bay.
The guided tours are a great way to learn more about the geology, flora and fauna, and about the area's history.


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Swakopmund, The Mole

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The Mole is the spot that marks the officially declared town of Swakopmund.
The site was founded by Hauptman Curt von François, the captain of the Schutztruppe in 1892.
The Germans, under the engineer FW Ortloff's command, made several attempts at establishing a sea wall to enhance landing facilities for an operational harbor. 
The Benguela currents, however, proved too powerful and their efforts failed.
Within five years, the harbor filled with sand, creating what is now known as Palm Beach.



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Swakopmund, Sports & Outdoor Activities (1)

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Quickly becoming the extreme sports Mecca of southern Africa, Swakopmund caters to all adrenaline junkies looking for a fix.
Between the sands of sea, the coastal waters and the open skies, there are a variety of activities to suite everyone's needs.


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Swakop Sandboarding
The guys running this show are extremely fun and are willing to let you do things others won't.
They pick you up wherever you are staying at 9h30, surf or sled the dunes for several hours, have lunch and beers or cool drinks along the coast, and get you back to your place by 13h30.
Everything is included in the price.
They realize the deep connection between their business and the dunes, ensuring environmentally friendly services.


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Swakopmund, Sights & Culture

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Historical Buildings

Swakopmund is a little Germany in Africa, giving this small seaside town some Old World charm.
Many of the buildings were erected at the turn of the century and are in excellent condition today.
They represent the Neo-Barrock, Jugendstil, and classical styles of the time.
Officially, eleven buildings have been declared National Monuments, while 33 others are also of great interest, largely because of their architectural style.
Pick yourself up Swakopmund's Official Tourism and Information Map which indicates the town's historical sites.

For a complete list of interesting building, pictures and history please visit :

www.swakop.com

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Swakopmund, Orientation

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Nestled against both the Atlantic Ocean and the Namib sand dunes, Swakopmund is Namibia's holiday resort town.


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The town is small and can easily be walked -  it's basically a large rectangle with three main roads.


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The B2 coming from Windhoek takes you straight to the heart of town where the road becomes Sam Nujoma Avenue.

Moses Garoeb Street (C34) heads north towards Henties Bay and Nathaniel Maxuilili Street (B2) takes you south towards Walvis Bay.


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Swakopmund (5)

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Swakopmund reemerged after Independence and is today one of Namibia's most modern cities.

Its infrastructure is superb due to its beautiful location and also due to the discovery of uranium at Rossing - 70 km outside of town.


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Rossing, the world's largest uranium mine, employs many Namibians and had a large impact on Swakopmund's development.


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Swakopmund is also a popular Namibian resort town.
Tourists and Namibians alike flock to the Swakopmund's coast to relax on holiday and partake in its many adventurous sport.


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Tracking Satellites

In 2000, the People's Republic of China and the Namibian government agreed to build a satellite tracking station at Swakopmund.

The site was chosen because of its alignment on the orbital track of a manned spacecraft during its reentry phase.

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Swakopmund (4)

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In a short period of time, the Mole filled with silt and in 1905 work began on yet another attempt to create a functional landing site with a wooden jetty.


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This proved to be inadequate, so in 1914 an iron jetty was built (the remains of which can still be seen today).

With the end of the First World War, the Germans surrendered control to the South Africans and all harbor activities were diverted to Walvis Bay.


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After this transfer, Swakopmund's businesses ceased and with them the town's inhabitants diminished.


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Swakopmund (3)

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The first settlers were 120 members of the Schutztruppe - or the German armed forces - and 40 settlers.

The settlers erected two beacons in the vicinity of today's lighthouse, officially marking the founding of Swakopmund.


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Originally, the settlers built shelters on the beach to protect themselves against the unfavorable wheather.

Breakwaters were built, creating an official harbor, and were commonly referred to as The Mole.

With each year more and more traffic flowed into Swakopmund's harbor.


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Swakopmund (2)

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Officially, Swakopmund was founded in 1892, only two years after Windhoek, by Captain Curt von François.

The area was intended to be German South West Africa's main harbor, as the trafficking of people and goods between Germany and its colony increased steadily.


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It was essential for Germany to establish a port as, only 30 km due south, Walvis Bay was a fully operating British port.


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The Germans chose the port to be on the north of the Swakop River because of the readily available source of water even though it offered no protection to ships just off the coast.


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Swakopmund (1)

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The Nama word Tsoakhaub, meaning "an excrement opening", referred to the waters of the Swakop River when it flooded, carrying mud, sand, pieces of vegetation and animal corpses into the Atlantic Ocean, and was the first known name given to the area of what is today Swakopmund.


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The Nama name was changed to "Swachaub" with the arrival of German settlers and with the official proclamation of Swakopmund as an independent district of German South West Africa in 1896.


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This name transformed into the present way of writing Swakopmund, a German word meaning an estuary of the Swakop River.


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Usakos

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Nestled in the valley of the Khan River and developed around an old railway station at the turn of the 20th century, Usakos acted as Namibia's rail capital before the industry moved to Windhoek.


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Usakos is  a Nama word meaning "grasp by the heel".
This is a tiny town catering to visitors filling up their vehicles and taking a quick stretch of the legs on their journey to Swakopmund.


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Catch a quick glimpse of Locomotive nr. 40 (built in 1912 by Henschel and Son in Kassel, Germany), or the Trekkopje Battlefield (the site of very important battles fought between the South Afican Forces and the Germans in 1915).


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On the eastern side of town there is a camping area and if needing to relieve the days hunger, be sure to browse the Pop In Take Away, near the petrol filling station.


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