The small town of Luderitz is wedged between the Namib Desert dunes and the wild Atlantic seaboard. Following lunch onboard, visit the abandoned diamond-mining town of Kolmanskop. In 1908, a sparkling diamond was found among the sand and the news spread like wildfire, causing fortune hunters to converge in droves on Kolmanskop. The town reached its pinnacle in the 1920s with approximately 300 German adults, 40 children and 800 Owambo contract workers as residents. In spite of, or probably because of, the isolation of the surrounding desert, Kolmanskop developed into a lively little haven of German culture. However, richer diamond deposits were discovered further south, and operations were moved. Today it is mostly a ghost town of crumbling ruins; the stately homes, eroded by the wind, are gradually becoming sand. However, a museum has been established and a number of buildings restored. The excursion continues with a tour of Luderitz, stopping at historic spots such as the old whaling station, Goerke House, Diaz Point and the old Herero internment camp of Shark Island.
Alternatively, you may choose to set off on a guided walking tour of Luderitz for an in-depth exploration of its attractions. Set against a background of black rock and sparkling blue waters, an architectural heritage of graceful buildings from the German era gives the town a special charm. Take time to visit the small museum in town that features German colonial flags and photos of Adolf Lüderitz, as well as exhibits on the town’s history, its indigenous population, and life in the desert.