Swakopmund Museum

The Swakopmund Museum is the town’s general museum and, by its own count, the biggest privately run museum in Namibia. A dentist, Dr Alfons Weber, started it in 1951 to house his collection, and it is still run by a non-profit, the Scientific Society Swakopmund. It sits on the seafront at the Mole, just below the lighthouse, so it fits easily into a walk along the beach.

What to expect

The collection is broad rather than deep, which is no bad thing for a first visit to the country. There are displays on Namibia’s plants, animals and insects, a strong mineral and geology section with specimens from Tsumeb and the Erongo mountains, and archaeological finds. The best known pieces are the fitted interior of the old Adler pharmacy, an original ox wagon and the displays on Namibia’s different peoples.

Weber’s friends gave many of the first items, including weapons and keepsakes from the German colonial army, so the colonial period is well represented. Use it as a starting point on the country’s history, not the full story.

Practical details

• Open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
• Entrance faces the sea. Parking is in Ludwig Koch Street, below the lighthouse.
• Phone +264 64 402 046, email museum@sciswk.com.
• Guided tours must be booked at least a day ahead with the curator. Tours in Namibian Sign Language can be arranged with two to three days’ notice.
• The museum is wheelchair friendly and has a wheelchair at the front desk.

Good to know

The museum shop sells books and postcards, and the cashiers sell stamps and will point you to the old red post box. The same society runs the Sam Cohen Library and archives in town, open on weekdays, if you want to dig into old newspapers, maps or photographs.

Last updated 7 October 2026. Sources: Scientific Society Swakopmund, Swakopmund Museum, Scientific Society Swakopmund, Contact, Scientific Society Swakopmund, Museums Association of Namibia, Swakopmund Museum, Wikipedia (German), Swakopmund Museum.