Lüderitz
The historic Lüderitz has its own special charm, completely different to other coastal towns in Namibia. The rough, diverse and rocky coast serves the town as wonderful scenery. Apart from tourism the most important economy in Lüderitz is still the fishing industry, as well as crayfishing, oysters and perlemon breeding, export of seaweed for the cosmetic industry and of course diamond mining at Elizabeth Bay and in the Atlantic Ocean. For visitors the natural lagoons and the Diaz Point are of special interest.
On 25.07.1488 the Portuguese sailor Bartholomeu Diaz landed here, named the bay 'Angra Pequeña' and errected a stone cross (padrão). In 1883 the merchant Adolf Lüderitz from Bremen founded Lüderitz in Angra as first German settlement and the German colony South West Africa developed. In his honour the harbour in the rocky bay was called „Lüderitzbucht“ in 1886.
When strolling through the town many, well maintained Jugenstil houses attract attention, like the Görcke House, the Woermann House and the “Felsenkirche” a church situated on the Diamond Hill and visible from far. The main attraction of the region is the former diamond town „Kolmanskop“. Kolmanskop is nowadays the most popular ghost town of Namibia and a highlight to every visit of Southern Namibia. Every morning guided tours can be booked and the old mine houses half covered with sand can be photographed. Some tour operators also offer full day tours to Elisabeth Bay, Pomona and to the Bogenfels at the coast. Here the visitor will need a permit.
Lüderitz offers a variety of accommodation facilities, among others the picturesque Lüderitz Nest Hotel, ‘Zur Waterkant Pension, Bayview and Kapps Hotel.
