Lüderitz- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Lüderitz, founded by German merchant Franz Adolf Eduard Lüderitz in 1883, is located along Namibia's Diamond Coast. The town's history traces back to 1487 when Portuguese sailor Bartholomeu Diaz landed and named the bay Angra Pequena. Lüderitz acquired the land through a deceptive transaction from Nama leader Josef Fredericks. Although initially facing economic challenges, the discovery of diamonds in 1908 transformed Lüderitz into a prosperous town. As diamond mining moved south, the town's importance declined, but a thriving fishing industry and oyster farming, supported by the nutrient-rich Benguela Current, sustained its economy. Touristic highlights are some of the well maintained old houses from the German colonial times, build in Wilhelminian Art Deco. Also remarkable is the amount of appealing coastal beaches, especially the Big Bay and many sandy bays and lagoons. At the Halifax Island penguins and flamingos can be seen.