Lüderitz

Introduction

Building

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Lüderitz is a long drive from anywhere in Namibia but is a very rewarding place to pay a visit, in part because of its German colonial history. En route to Lüderitz, watch for wild horses on the plains several dozens of kilometres before the town. Although Lüderitz itself is just a small place, it has its charms.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

• A drive over the gravel roads of the peninsula is very nice - you can see seals, so bring your binoculars! Don't forget a visit to deserted Kolmanskop, a ghost town and forbidden area in the time when diamonds were found here. Now, diamonds can not be found here in a wide area, but there are some good tours here and it feels a bit strange actually being here.
• There is some interesting, brightly-coloured Art Nouveau architecture dotted around the town, as well as other relics of the German colonial occupation. Particularly interesting are the Felsenkirche, the Goerke Haus, and all the buildings on Berg Street.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Lüderitz has a very pleasant climate with generally warm and dry weather and relatively small fluctuations throughout the year. The summer months from November to March are somewhat warmer though compared to winter from June to September. Precipitation is extremely low, mainly because of the cold Benguela current flowing along the coast. Lüderitz, like many places along the Namibian coast though experiences quite a few days with fog.

Getting There

By Plane

Air Namibia flies to Cape Town, Oranjemund and Walvis Bay.

By Train

By Car

It's a straight 4-hour drive from Keetmanshoop. En route to Lüderitz, watch for wild horses on the plains several dozens of kilometres before the town.

By Bus

Minibuses depart from the Caltex station in Keetmanshoop, however most of them originate in Windhoek, so are unlikely to reach Keetmanshoop before mid-morning. As such, you may be better off hitching (either from the Caltex station or on the road heading towards Lüderitz). Whichever option you choose, it should cost about N$120 (Nov 2009) and local drivers take just over 3 hours for the trip.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

Lüderitz is small enough to walk around on foot.

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Lüderitz Backpackers, information at namibweb website, is a cheap option in the town. A private room with shared facilities costs N$210 (Nov 2009). They can also book seats on a minibus heading back to Keetmanshoop, leaving at about 9:15am.

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet is available on Bismarck Street but costs N$1 per minute (Nov 2009).

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

Check with your mobile provider whether your network will be supported by a local Namibian network. Be aware that when you get off the beaten track signal can be erratic.

Post

Nampost is the national postal service of Namibia. It has post offices in most major cities and towns or postal services are incorporated within small shops in the smallest settlements. As for many countries in Southern Africa, services are actually fairly reliable but not very fast. Count on 2 weeks or more for postcards or letters to be send to countries in Europe or North America. Most post offices are open from 8:00 or 9:00am to around 4:30pm, with shorter hours (mornings) on Saturdays. Note that local variations may apply. For parcels, you might choose more expensive but faster companies like DHL, UPS or TNT.