Lüderitz is a surreal colonial relic - a Bavarian village huddling on the barren, windswept coast of the Namib Desert, seemingly untouched by the 20th century. It's everything you'd expect of a small German town, from delicatessens and coffee shops to Lutheran churches. The coastline is home to penguins and seals; the desolate beaches support flocks of flamingo and ostrich. Lüderitz is also the northern anchor of the diamond-rich Sperrgebiet (forbidden area), and its prosperity shows.

The prominent Evangelical Lutheran church, Felsenkirche, dominates the town from high on Diamond Hill, and features some exquisite stained-glass windows. The Lüderitz Museum contains displays on the town's natural history, local indigenous people and the diamond-mining industry. Sailing trips to the local Cape fur seal sanctuary leave the harbour jetty daily, weather permitting.

Lüderitz is a long way from anywhere. Flights go between Lüderitz and Windhoek several times a week. Keetmanshoop, the nearest sizeable town to Lüderitz, is 425km (264mi) south-east of Windhoek. Although the train no longer trundles its way between Lüderitz and Keetmanshoop (300km/186mi to the east), Trans-Namib railways operates a passenger bus on this route.

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• Aberteuer Afrika Safari
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Summary|Culture|History
Etosha national park|Fish river canyon
Luderitz|Windhoek