Luderitz
After Kolmanskop Ghost Diamond Mining town, it was just 10kms to Ludeeritz. on the coast.

 It is a fascinating place that expanded following the discovery of diamonds and is full of art deco architecture with a German twist. There were many fascinating buildings and I walked around town taking photos of most of the interesting ones.

 Overlooking the town on the top of a hill is the church.

 And around it yet more colourful buildings.

 On a small peninsular jutting into the bay is Shark Island which isn't actually an island but it over looks a small island of the same name. This was were the Herero people were imprisoned following an uprising starting in 1904 against the oppressive rule of the German colonial government. It is a barren, windswept rock but an ideal prison as the currents are dangerous and only a few guards were needed at the narrow neck of the peninsular. Several thousand died here before being released.

 Our hostel had a few quirks such as two ships wheelhouses that had been converted into bedrooms.

 And there was an old railway carriage i the sidings at the station. The original line to Aus and the mainline was built in just ten months to connect the diamond mine to the port of Luderitz and the main network. It fell into disrepair but there was a plan to upgrade and reinstate the line in 2006. Over a decade later work is still going on but it will soon be complete when the signalling equipment has been tested and the sand dunes that have since covered sections of the railway are removed.

Then we headed south of the town to a nature reserve to see flamingoes.

At the end of the peninsular is a lighthouse.

 And beyond it is an old wooden bridge that connects the mainland to a lookout point but it was washed away in storms in 2008 and there is a collection to fund the rebuilding.

  And the Diaz Cross, a navigational aid first erected by Bartolemw Diaz on 27th July 1488.
                                               
 On an island offshore were some seals relaxing on the rocks.

 And on another island was a penguin colony of Fairy Penguins but it was too far away for the camera to get any good close up photos.