Niël Terblanché
The Swakop River has once again reached the Atlantic Ocean, drawing hundreds of residents of both Swakopmund and Walvis Bay to its banks to witness this rare natural event.
Sustained rainfall over Namibia’s interior replenished the river and its tributaries, enabling the flow to extend to the sea.
The last occurrence of this phenomenon was on 16 February 2022, when the river flowed into the ocean after an 11-year pause.
At that time, residents celebrated by gathering at the river mouth, with some assisting the flow by digging channels in the sand.
The Swakop River, an ephemeral watercourse, typically reaches the Atlantic approximately every five years.
Its flow and its eventual reaching the sea are heavily dependent on rainfall in the interior regions.
Residents expressed awe and appreciation for witnessing the river’s journey to the sea.
“It’s a beautiful reminder of nature’s power and the cycles that govern our environment,” said one local observer.
Besides being a spectacle for coastal residents, the freshwater also brings nutrients that can influence marine ecosystems
The community expressed gratitude for the rains, which continue to support the river’s flow and the region’s water resources that benefit both the environment and local livelihoods.
The fresh inland waters were expected to mix with the salty ocean later on Tuesday night.
