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Discover welwitschia in a moon landscape

Swakopmund, Namibia

Drive the Welwitschia Drive near Swakopmund and discover the ancient welwitschia plant and the fascinating moon landscape.

What you can experience here

On the Welwitschia Drive you immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the Namib Desert and discover one of the oldest plants in the world: the Welwitschia mirabilis. This ancient desert plant, which can live for over 1,000 years, defies the desert’s extreme conditions.

The route takes you through the so-called moon landscape, a bizarre, barren region created by erosion. The rugged rock formations and wide, dusty plains really do look like the surface of the moon and provide a unique backdrop. Along the way there are numerous viewpoints and interesting geological formations to discover that round off the experience.

To drive this self-drive route you need a permit, which you can obtain from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism office in Swakopmund (corner of Sam Nujoma Ave and Bismarck Street). The Welwitschia Drive is a self-drive route and takes about 3–4 hours.