A LITTLE BIT OF Germany in Africa, pushed into the Atlantic by the shifting desert sands, a long way from anywhere, sparked to life by diamonds in 1908. Bowling alleys in the sand. Grand European public buildings, pastel coloured houses, penguins, flamingos, a ghost town…..welcome to Luderitz.

Sometimes nicknamed "Ludicrous", the incongrous sights of this German town hemmed in by deserts and rocky headlands startles.

Grand public and private buildings, churches and more sprung up during a diamond fueled boom in the 1900s.

Nearby Kolmanskop was the company town for the diamond miners, a ghost town since the exhaustion of the precious stones.

And while the ghost town and the quirky Germanic influence are the chief drawcard for travellers, some OK walks around the headland to the south are rewarding.

Without a car, we were unable to explore the furthest reaches of the peninsula south of town, but several bays and inlets provided a dramatic variety of landscapes.

As is often the case in Namibia, the speed and frequency with which the scenery changes is outstanding.

Overcast mornings usually give way to clear, blue skies, making for better photography later in the morning.

A railway worker was removing sand from rail tracks in 1908, when he found some stones which he showed his boss.

Water came in by rail, and watered manicured gardens of green lawns. Opera, theatre, orchestra and gymnastics groups toured this outpost of Germany.

Some of the public buildings have been preserved for museums and visitor facilities. Others are closed for safety reasons, but you are free to wander through many.

As the diamonds here ran out, richer pickiings were found nearer the Orange River. Kolmanskop heyday passed.

Luderitz grew in parallel with Kolmanskop, a flourishing town of art-noveau architecture and German culture, far, far away from anywhere.

Many fine German buildings remain, including the company boss's house and the 1911 Felsenkirche (Lutheran church).

The awesome stained-glass panels inside the church were a gift from none other than one Kaiser Wilhelm II.

A harsh desert to one side, and a harsh ocean on the other meant that progress and development have bypassed Luderitz since the diamond days.