An interpretation of high-resolution aeromagnetic data, backed up by Landsat ETM+ images and field observations, reveals a major NE-trending regional dike swarm in west-central Namibia which we name the Henties Bay-Outjo dike swarm (HOD). The HOD is some 100 km wide and extends at least 500 km from the continental margin, thus ranking among the regionally important dike swarms on the South Atlantic margins. Field relations and radiometric dates indicate Early Cretaceous emplacement ages for the dikes, contemporary with Etendeka Group flood basalts and with the Damaraland intrusive complexes that occur in the same area. The orientation and distribution of dikes within the HOD suggest a strong influence by Damara Belt structures within the first 100 km from the coast. Farther inland, the dikes are more discordant to the Damara Belt and finally the swarm leaves the Damara Belt entirely and crosses into the Angola craton, where dikes fan out to the north and extend for at least another 200 km. Keywords: Paran-Etendeka province, Dike swarm, Flood basalts, Damara Belt, Gondwana breakup, Geochemistry.