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We are aboard the Viking Sky! We boarded two days ago on April 4 in Cape Town, joining a world cruise that has been underway since January. Yesterday (April 5) was a sea day, and today we have (for us) our first port.
Namibia is on the west coast of Southern Africa, bordered by Angola (north), Botswana (east) and South Africa (south). Namibia is the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa, and the Namib Desert is considered the oldest desert in the world. The German Empire ruled Namibia from 1884 until the First World War. It was then ruled by South Africa until it gained its independence in 1990. Namibia today is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.
The Namibian port city of Lüderitz is located on one of the most inhospitable coasts in Africa. It is named after Adolf Lüderitz, founder of the German South West Africa colony. The town is at the end of a decommissioned railway line, and it is known today for its colonial architecture and wildlife.
Lüderitz was on the itinerary for last year’s world cruise. Unfortunately, rough weather forced us to miss the port. We were thrilled that we were able to visit this year. The bad news is we arrived two hours later than scheduled. The good news is we were able to dock, instead of anchoring and tendering to shore.
We joined the included excursion, “Kolmanskop – Ghost Town of the Namib.” Russell was assigned to escort. He gave the assignment to Gail and simply booked a free ticket for himself. We were able to get onto the same tour bus.
Kolmanskop is a ghost town about 6 miles inland from Lüderitz. At one time, it was a very rich mining village. It mined guano (bird poop) until someone discovered diamonds on the property. At one time, you could walk around and collect diamonds lying on the ground. When the diamonds ran out in 1956, the town was abandoned. Today it is a popular tourist destination, as the town has slowly been taken over by the desert.
“Kolmanskop” is Afrikaans for “Coleman’s Peak.” It is named after Johnny Coleman, a transport driver who abandoned his ox wagon on a small hill during a sand storm.
After we heard a short presentation by Nicole, a sixth-generation descendant of the old town, we had about an hour to explore the ruins on our own. Nicole recommended that we visit the “Krankenhaus,” the old hospital. We walked through rooms and facilities that have surrendered over time to the encroaching sands of the desert.
After lunch we had the opportunity to walk into town, but today is Sunday and almost everything is closed. Instead, we stayed aboard ship and enjoyed the sunny weather from the Aquavit terrace.
We have been aboard Viking Sky for less than two days, but there are many guests and crew who know us from previous cruises. Coming aboard a Viking ship feels like coming home, and the world cruisers have been particularly welcoming. We already feel like we are becoming a part of the onboard community that has developed over the past several months.
