Climbing Area Swakopmund
The position of the climbing area Swakopmund
The climbing area in the Swakop River lies about 57 km from Swakopmund. It is accessible by a normal car, but not from Goanikontes (deep sand!). For the visit, currently no permit is required. All the rocks on the (orographic) left side of the Swakop, therefore south, the area is already in the Namib Naukluft Park. The northern part (Brauhaus Wall etc.) belongs to Dorob Park.Access: From Swakopmund on the tar road B2 to Windhoek, after 40 km in altitude of the Rössing mountains (left), the gravel road D 1991 to the right. After 18 km turn left, directly behind the ridge follow a good lane. Drive passed the left lying field of lichens and after driving over a small ridge there is a narrow canyon down to the Swakop Rivier (3.3 Km). Now left in the dry riverbed for 1.5 km upstream to the climbing rock. You can also take the D 1991 to Goanikontes and go before the old customs house in the River 5 km uphill to the left. This route is passable only, because of deep sand, with a four-wheel drive or VW bus.
Location map of the climbing area in Swakop River
1 Kückis Pub, 2 Brauhaus Wand, 3 Stiefel (boots)
Permit for the Dorob NP
Night's lodging, camping, safety
In the Swakop or close to valleys, it is possible to camp freely in many beautiful places. Many of the Swakopmund citizens use these over the weekends. The area is still frequented, almost daily, used by the tour companies and can be considered safe.All rubbish must be taken along. Please also use existing fire pits and also do not break wood of the few trees and shrubs in the desert. Bring your wood along! At night it can get quite cold, because the climb is still in the fog zone of the Atlantic. In Swakopmund itself, there are campsites, cheap accommodation in sufficient numbers.
Since 01/12/2010 the new Dorob Park is proclaimed in a 50 km wide strip from the coast towards the inland, which connects in the north to the Skeleton Coast Park and in the south to the Namib Naukluft Park. Thus, the entire Namibian coast, from Angola to South Africa, is a conservation area.
The establishment of the park is under intense criticism since the residents of Swakopmund, as well as Lüderitz, who have been there 100 years, must now live an 'island life'. Any free movement in nature is thus suppressed. In addition, large areas of the Namib Naukluft Park are used by the government for ruthless greed and complete destruction by international uranium mining companies. Near the famous Welwitschia surface in the lunar landscape, at present there are three new uranium mines occurring! All this in one of the largest conservation parks!
Free permits for the visits to the Dorob parks are available from the conservation authority in Swakopmund in Bismarck Street (also on Sunday mornings).
Klipspringer
Mountaineering Development
The development began on 10th April 2010 and within a few days some beautiful cliffs and routes were opened up. The rock is composed of gneiss, with many zones of granite, feldspar, quartzite and dolerite. The rock is solid, but weathered at the surface partial and often has a loose rubble edition. A helmet is recommended in any case. The Sport climbing routes are sufficiently secured with bolts, nuts and some friends are recommended. To enable this new area not to be blurred as the climbs on the big Spitzkoppe or Norotshama, we ask from the very beginning to refrain from using magnesia. The fine quartz and float sand dust has the same effect.
Blooming Hoodia currorii; right: Blooming Lily Namib (hexacyrtis dickiana) on 9 January 2011 after a brief rain shower
Descendant Swakop on the 13/03/2011
Route descriptions
--> Kückis Pub (german)
--> Brauhaus-Wand (german)
--> Stiefel (boots) (german)