Discovering southern Namibia
Further north, the landscape flattens and the sands of the Namib begin. On their southern edge, the ghost town of Kolmanskop lies abandoned – its mining riches now exhausted. The houses, built by German colonists, are still standing, but the sands of the desert have begun to fill them, making for an eerie atmosphere.
To the west, the winds and waves of the Atlantic batter the remote coastline, which is dotted with settlements that feel trapped in the past. The largest of these is Lüderitz, with its colourful Art Nouveau architecture. This coastline also attracts wildlife, in spite of the harsh climate, including seals, penguins and flamingos. Penguin Island, in Luderitz Bay, is named after its unusual visitors.