Swakopmund and the Coast

Swakopmund is a town of German colonial architecture wedged between the Namib and the Atlantic, cooled by the Benguela current and fogged in for much of the year. It is Namibia's adventure capital and the usual break in a long desert drive. Walvis Bay, half an hour south, has a lagoon full of flamingos and a cape fur seal colony out at Pelican Point.

Bring a jacket. It is often 15 degrees cooler than the interior and the fog does not always lift. Two nights is the usual stop. Activities book out during the South African school holidays.