Namibia is famed for its many different adventure sports and activities available to tourists and locals like. One of the most popular varieties of adventure sport is kiteboarding. Southern Namibia has a lot of wind, and a lot wide open spaces and beaches, this post will tell you a bit about a little town where you can learn how to take advantage of the wind, sun and water.
Luderitz- a town of many surprises.
There is one place in the world where the fastest kiteboarders converge every year, and that place is Luderitz. International kiteboarders flock to the Luderitz Speed Challenge every year to try and break the World Sailing Speed Record because of this small town's excellent prevailing winds, and perfectly suited lagoons and shorelines.
Free as a bird-
a kiteboarder is pulled skywayrd by winds off the coast of Luderitz.
(photo courtesy of Geesche Neuberg)
Naturally where there are great wind speeds and all-round amazing kiteboarding conditions in a picturesque place, kiteboarding fanatics will follow, and those fanatics need a place to stay while visiting the small town.
In Luderitz there is a place called Element Riders where thrill seekers can not only hire equipment for various adventure sports, but also receive instruction in how to do those sports.
Friendly owners and clean rooms, that's Element Riders in nutshell!
Activities on offer include kiteboarding, rock climbing, landboarding, surfing, power kiting, paragliding, and even skydiving for the real adrenaline junkies! Element Riders also doubles up as a backpackers-style accommodation for those who want to stay close to the action.
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Climbers just outside Luderitz.
(photo courtesy of Geesche Neuberg) 
The wind stays constant for much of the day around Luderitz
which means more kiting!
(photo courtesy of Geesche Neuberg)
Geesche Neuberg runs Element Riders and when in Luderitz there is no one better to showcase the town's various activities that are available to the adventure seeking traveller. She walked us through her procedure when she takes someone kiteboarding for the first time.
If you are a novice kiter then you can start your day with Geesche explaining the basics of kiteboarding, which then will be followed by an hour long lesson in which the fundamentals of kiteboarding you have just learned can be put into practice.
Start from the very beginning and learn how to inflate your kite.
Fun with pumps!
Element riders has various kites on offer, from small beginner kites...
...to the big guys like this kite pictured above.
Depending on your ability and experience with the kites you may require more or less instruction before you are ready to hit the beach and the waves. But even total novices are welcome and Geesche assured us that kiting is not as difficult as it looks.
And once you have the basics down then all that is left to do is catch some of the famous Luderitz wind. If you consult Wind Guru you will see just how constant the wind is in thie part of the world.
There is always something blowing in Luderitz.
The fact that kiteboarding is weather dependent should be factored into your plans, and while the prevailing winds and conditions in Luderitz are usually perfect for kiteboarding, make sure you factor in three or four days if you want to ensure that you get some good kiting in.
Perfect weather for kiting, but we had to move on to the next town.
(photo courtesy of Geesche Neuberg)
When in Luderitz, as we mentioned above, you are not just limited to kiteboarding. Geesche also told us about some of the other extreme/adventure activities that one can do in the southern town.
We were surprised to hear that Geesche’s business alone runs mountain climbing excursions, stand-up canoe trips, skydiving, paragliding and landboarding. And there are several other adventure-activity operators that run out of Luderitz as well.
Rock climbing in Namibia is beginning to become very popular.
(photo courtesy of Geesche Neuberg)
Friendly instruction is offered in each of these activities for travellers of all skill levels and experience. Adventurers of all skills and sizes are encouraged to take part and learn how to ride the water, ride the wind, climb the rocks, and even fall through the sky.
The great thing about almost all these adventure activities is that they offer amazing photo opportunities for budding photographers.
Extreme sports mean extreme photography.
(photo courtesy of Geesche Neuberg)
From attaching GoPro’s to kites, to capturing amazing photos of cliffs and crags, to taking pictures of a companion as they cut through the ocean waves on a board; adventure sports are an action photographer’s dream.
A kiter makes his way out to see as the wind whips up the sand.
(photo courtesy of Geesche Neuberg)
If Element Riders is full then fret not, there are several different places where you can stay in the small town.
Here’s a list of them:
Element Riders: Official Website
Nest Hotel: Official Website
Bayview Hotel: Tel: +264-63-202-288
, [email protected]
Kapps Hotel : Tel: +264-63-202-345 , [email protected]
Kratzplatz B&B : Tel: +264-63-202-458
Haus Sandrose : Tel: +264-63-202-630
Hansa Haus Self Catering : Tel: +264-63-203-581
Obelix Village B&B : Tel: +264-63-203-456
Island Cottage Self Catering : Tel: +264-81-292-298
Shark Island Camping & Bungalows : Tel: +264-63-202-752
Backpackers Lodge : Tel: +264-63-202-000
For more accomodation options visit The Namibia Tourism Website.
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