Lüderitz Peninsula - Namibia
The Lüderitz Peninsula, much of which lies outside the Sperrgebiet prohibited area, makes an interesting half-day excursion from town. The picturesque and relatively calm bay, Sturmvogelbucht, has a lovely beach and is viable for swimming, but the water temperature would only be amenable to a sea or a penguin. A Norwegian whaling station was sited there in 1914, but is now a rusty ruin.
At Diaz Point, 22km south of Lüderitz, is a lovely, classic lighthouse and replica of a cross erected in July 1488 by Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias on his return voyage from the Cape of Good Hope. The point is frequented by sea lions, and from the nearby car park, you can observe the jackass penguin colony on Halifax Island. You can also observe cormorants, wading birds and even the occasional school of dolphins.
Grosse Bucht (Big Bay) at the southern end of the peninsula is another wild and scenic beach. This normally cold, windy spot is favored by flocks of flamingoes that feed in the tidal pools. It’s also the site of a small but picturesque shipwreck on the beach. Just a few kilometers north lay the small seaside rock arch known as Klein Bogenfels. |
