The ephemeral Swakop River is in flood again for the first time since 2011 and is draining into the Atlantic Ocean where many spectators have gathered along the coast to take in this rare sight.
Picture: Francois Lotter
The Namib Desert is a combination of sand dunes and bare rocks that stretches along the west coast of southern Africa. Impermanent rivers flow towards the coast in this arid environment but very rarely reach the ocean.
The Swakop River is one of these and it drains into the Atlantic Ocean a little south of the town of Swakopmund. On average, it only ever floods every five years which makes this a remarkable occasion that is attracting a lot of attention.
Picture: Francois Lotter
The flooding Swakop River has turned the blue seawater of the Atlantic around Swakopmund into a brown sediment-rich colour. Interestingly, the Khoekhoe name for the river is ‘Tsoaxaub’ which takes its meaning from the words ‘tsoa‘ meaning ‘excrement opening’ and xaub which translates to ‘contents of excrement’.
The flooding Swakop River has turned the blue Atlantic around Swakopmund brown.
Video: Helen Bottger pic.twitter.com/Uqh7J4Dy1k— Getaway Magazine (@GetawayMagazine) February 16, 2022
Picture: Francois Lotter
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