The plane climbs to 10,000 feet. The engine is loud. The ground gets smaller. You look out and see the Namib Desert spreading in every direction. The Atlantic Ocean is silver to the west. The town of Swakopmund is a tiny dot below.
The door opens.The wind is very loud now. Then you jump.
For about 30 seconds, you are in freefall. The ground rushes up. The wind is so strong you cannot talk. All you can do is look. And what you see is one of the most beautiful places on earth from one of the most extreme angles possible.
Tandem Skydiving Near Swakopmund
The sky diving takes place near Swakopmund, operated by certified and experienced instructors. You jump in tandem, which means you are attached to your instructor the whole time. Your instructor pulls the parachute and lands. All you do is enjoy it.
No experience is needed. You get a short safety briefing on the ground before you board the plane. It covers your body position during freefall and how landing works.
The jump zone over Swakopmund is considered one of the most scenic skydive locations in the world. You are looking at the point where the Namib Desert, one of the oldest deserts on earth, meets the Atlantic Ocean. From that altitude, both stretch to the horizon in opposite directions. Very few places on earth offer this view.
After the parachute opens, the noise stops completely. You float down slowly for several minutes. This is when most people start taking it all in.
Sandwich Harbour After the Jump
After skydiving, the tour heads south by 4×4 to Sandwich Harbour. The drive takes about 45 minutes. Your guide crosses the tidal flats below Walvis Bay and enters the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
You were just above these dunes at 10,000 feet. Now you stand on top of them at 100 metres. The ocean is still below you. Flamingos still feed in the lagoon. But now it is very quiet and very still.
Both parts of this tour stay with you for completely different reasons. Best time to jump is May to October for best visibility.
If you are more curious about the small, hidden side of this desert, the Sandwich Harbour and Living Desert Tour shows you a Namib you would never find on your own.