What to expect
Climb the Woermann Tower, also known as the Damara Tower, for a 360° view over Swakopmund, from the Atlantic coastline to the edge of the Namib Desert.
A bit of history
The tower rises from the Woermannhaus on Bismarck Street, one of Swakopmund's best-known colonial-era buildings. Designed by architect Friedrich Höft and completed in the early 1900s, the building first housed the Damara and Namaqua Trading Company before passing to Woermann, Brock & Co. in 1909.
The tower had a practical job: lookouts used it to watch for ships arriving offshore and for ox wagons approaching across the desert, and it also served as a water tower. A flag was raised from its platform whenever a Woermann Line ship was sighted at sea.
The Woermannhaus is a national monument and was restored in 1976. Today the building is also home to the town's public library.
Good to know
- Pick a clear day. The view is the main event, and coastal fog can hide it.
- Contact the tower directly for opening times and entry fees.