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In 1892, Captain Curt von François sailed into a protected curve of coastline north of Walvis Bay. He placed two beacons on the deserted beach. Over the years, the town of Swakopmund would take shape around these two points…
Why here? In 1884, after the colony of German South West Africa had been declared, there was a hunt to find a suitable harbour. Walvis Bay was out – the English had already staked their claim. After Von François’ recce, it was decided that a new harbour would be built on Swakop Beach.
The route to Windhoek wasn’t obstructed by any large dune belts, and there was relatively reliable fresh water from the Swakop River. (The water wasn’t very nice, old Swakopmunders will tell you. When they visited Windhoek, they’d add salt to their coffee because that was what they were used to…)
