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Things to do in Walvis Bay

Our most recommended things to do in Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay: Marine Big 5 Luxury Catamaran Tour

1. Walvis Bay: Marine Big 5 Luxury Catamaran Tour

Begin your dolphin and whale spotting expedition by checking in at Walvis Bay Waterfront at 8:30 am. Depart from the Jetty between 8:45 - 9 am. From there you’ll begin your search for Namibia’s marine Big 5. Sip a hot coffee or tea as you approach Pelican Point. Admire its landmark lighthouse and see the 60,000 cape fur seals who live there. If visiting in-season ( from July to November), you'll be able to spot large sea mammals including the Southern Right Whale and the Humpback Whale. If you’re lucky, you may be able to see a gray whale or a pygmy right whale. Observe different species of dolphins including bottlenose, Heaviside's, and dusky dolphins. Keep a lookout for mola molas and leatherback turtles. As you make your expedition, you’ll encounter a variety of seabirds including kelp gulls, Hartlaub’s gulls, and cape cormorant. On the return journey, cruise past ships and oilrigs docked in the bay. As you make your way back, enjoy fresh oysters, sparkling wine, savory snacks, and desserts alongside light drinks and water. You’ll return to the waterfront at 12:30 pm. 

Walvis Bay: Sandwich Harbour Sunset Photography Tour

2. Walvis Bay: Sandwich Harbour Sunset Photography Tour

Enjoy an evening trip to capture the beautiful sunset of Sandwich Harbor. Drive along the beach, experience the unique wetland atmosphere, and feast on snacks and drinks after you have taken your pictures. Departing from Walvis Waterfront, sit back and enjoy the journey as you are driven to the Kuiseb River Delta, a dry riverbed where you may spot the odd springbok, oryx, or jackal. Next, if the weather and tide allow, experience a drive to the Sandwich Harbour Lagoon along the beach. This is one of Southern Africa’s richest and most unique wetlands and one of five internationally recognized Ramsar sites in Namibia Enjoy plenty of time for photography in the beautiful late afternoon light. Explore your photographic creativity with the sun slowly setting, then bury your feet in the sand and watch the sunset over the ocean. When the sun has set and the light has diminished, feast on a selection of fresh Namibian oysters and snacks with sparkling wine, Namibian beers, and cool drinks. Take in the views from the dunes or the beach, before returning to the waterfront.

Walvis Bay: 4x4 Desert Excursion to Sandwich Harbour Bay

3. Walvis Bay: 4x4 Desert Excursion to Sandwich Harbour Bay

After meeting your guide at the Walvis Bay Waterfront, admire the mass of flamingoes in the Walvis Bay Lagoon.  Your 4x4 tour will head out to a tidal lagoon consisting of adjacent intertidal areas, mudflats, and sandbars that supports thousands of wetland birds. In addition to the many flamingoes, there are 11 species of endangered birds regularly observed at this RAMSAR site. Next, your tour proceeds to the Kuiseb river delta, a dry riverbed where springboks are sometimes seen. Here you'll also look for some of the area’s smaller creatures, such as the fog-basking beetle, dancing spider (white lady of the Namib), golden mole, shovel-snouted lizard, and palmato gecko. Then if weather and tides allow, you'll drive along the beach right to the Sandwich Harbour Lagoon, one of Southern Africa’s richest wetlands and the second RAMSAR site for the day.  Wedged between the sea and the Namib Dunes, this is one of Namibia's most important coastal wetlands and supports eight endangered species among the large numbers of wading birds.  Finally enjoy a light lunch including a selection of oysters and snacks, salad, bread, fresh fruit, and drinks atop a high dune overlooking the Atlantic Ocean or on the beach.

Walvis Bay: Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Trip with Beach BBQ Lunch

4. Walvis Bay: Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Trip with Beach BBQ Lunch

Explore Sandwich Harbour and its ancient dunes with a 4x4 adventure and a stop on the deserted beach of Pelican Point for a delicious lunch. Start or end your day with the magnificent Sandwich Harbour, adventuring through the high dunes and admiring the view of the Atlantic Ocean. Making multiple stops along the way, you have the chance to take an epic picture with the rolling sand landscapes as your backdrop, or even time to sit and fully take in the view. Experience a potential sighting of black backed jackals, brown hyenas, small desert reptiles, or even oryx. Whether you do a morning tour or an afternoon tour, you will get the added Pelican Point experience for lunch on the beach. With a welcoming table of fresh Walvis Bay oysters and sparkling wine to start off lunch, followed by beef fillet, crayfish, salads, and breads for the main lunch, you will enjoy the rest of your day fully satiated after this delicious Namibian lunch. A planing catamaran will either take you to Pelican Point first to start your afternoon with us or bring you back to the Walvis Bay Waterfront to conclude your morning with us. Expect a few local pelicans and seals to join you on board, to give you a taste of the bird and marine life of Walvis Bay.

From Walvis Bay: Sandwich Harbor 4x4 Tour with Lunch

5. From Walvis Bay: Sandwich Harbor 4x4 Tour with Lunch

Explore the Namib Desert with a 4x4 vehicle and experienced guide. Admire the abundant bird life along the way and enjoy the exciting dune driving. Arriving at the Walvis Bay Waterfront, you first meet your guide for the day, then set out on the experience of a lifetime. Making multiple stops along the way, you get to learn about the Walvis Bay Lagoon, famous for its flamingos. Afterwards, you make your way through the Walvis Bay salt pans, where you can spot more bird life, like Pelicans and Caspian terns, as well as the beautiful pink lakes. The real fun starts when you reach the soft beach sand and start heading South to Sandwich Harbour, where you will get to experience the magnificently high ancient dunes and the vast Atlantic Ocean colliding. Stopping on the beach strip or on top of the dunes allows multiple epic photo opportunities and memories to last a lifetime. Enjoy a light lunch, snacks, and sparkling wine with a view of the rolling dune landscapes, before returning to the Walvis Bay Waterfront where your tour will conclude.

Walvis Bay: Sandwich Harbour Half-Day 4x4 Scenic Excursion

6. Walvis Bay: Sandwich Harbour Half-Day 4x4 Scenic Excursion

After meeting your guide and before heading to Sandwich Harbour for your half-day experience in the dunes, a stop will be made at the Walvis Bay Lagoon to admire the flamingos and occasionally a great white pelican passing by. Leaving the flamingos behind, head to the salt works where you'll then proceed to the Sandwich Harbour wedging between the sea and dunes if tides allow; if tides forbid, surf the dunes up to the many convenient lookout spots. Then explore the Sandwich Harbour Lagoon, one of Southern Africa’s richest and most unique wetlands. Walk around Sandwich Harbour and climb some dunes, and don't forget to some action photos along the way. Finally, enjoy a light picnic lunch with some cold beverages with a natural desert backdrop, then hit the dunes for some more excitement before concluding your adventure to the Kuiseb River Delta, a dry riverbed where you can occasionally see springbok, oryx, or even ostrich.

Walvis Bay: Pelican Point & Sandwich Harbor Kayak & 4x4 Tour

7. Walvis Bay: Pelican Point & Sandwich Harbor Kayak & 4x4 Tour

The Kayak Combo is the combination of our Pelican Point Kayaking morning tour and an afternoon 4x4 ride in the breathtaking Sandwich Harbour Area of the Namib Naukluft Park. We spend the morning kayak next to our permanent seal colony at the tip of the Pelican Point Peninsula about 35 km outside of Walvis Bay. We regularly encounter Heaviside’s and Benguella Dolphins. Our kayaks are molded plastic sit-inside double kayaks. They are stable and suitable for inexperienced paddlers. Our guide will use a waterproof camera for some photos, which we will email to you withing a week after the tour (no extra cost). After refreshments, we head back to Walvis Bay to meet up with your Sandwich Harbour guide to see the Kuiseb River Delta, flamingoes, the saltpans and the wetlands just north of the Sandwich Harbour Lagoon. If weather and tides allow, you will drive right to the Sandwich Harbour Lagoon, one of Southern Africa’s richest and unique wetlands. Alternatively, you will get a chance to see the lagoon area from one of our many beautiful lookout spots. We return to Walvis Bay around 16h30.

Walvis Bay: Mondesa Township Tour

8. Walvis Bay: Mondesa Township Tour

The day begins with pickup from your accommodation in Walvis Bay and a meet and greet with your local guide who knows this part of Namibia, and its people, like the back of his hand. Listen to stories about the history of the land as you travel through untamed wilderness on your way to the township of Mondesa, where your guide was raised. Upon arrival at the township, receive a warm welcome from the locals and immediately feel immersed in the vibrant Mondesa way of life. As you explore the streets, listen to the sound of children playing, smell the scents of sidewalk barbecues, taste locally brewed beer, and try local delicacies such as mopane worms. Visit the local school and the arts and crafts center, then wander amongst the hustle and bustle of the open market before learning about the click language of the Damara tribe. Throughout the tour, listen to your guide share fascinating information about the history, culture, and traditions of Mondesa which provide a unique insight into the local community. Later, head to a home-style family kitchen and learn how to cook a variety of local dishes. With your group, prepare traditional meals using seasonal ingredients then sit down and eat together as a family whilst soaking up the Mondesa hospitality. At the end of an unforgettable cultural experience, watch a farewell performance by the town's choir then relax on the return journey to your accommodation.

Kayaking and Sandwich Harbour Combo Tour

9. Kayaking and Sandwich Harbour Combo Tour

Enjoy a scenic morning drive along the Walvis Bay Lagoon to Pelican Point. On this full-day combo tour you’ll stop along the way to see countless flamingos, pelicans and large flocks of cormorants. Get your kayak ready at Pelican Point, home to as many as 50,000 Cape fur seals. Paddle right next to the friendly creatures. Your guide will take some photos and email them to you after the tour. Head into the Namib Desert for a 4x4 dune drive. Enter the Namib Naukluft National Park, stopping to photograph wildlife at various points during the drive. If weather permits, enjoy lunch at Sandwich Lagoon – featuring finger snacks, sparkling wine, and local beer.

Highlights of Walvis Bay, Dune 7 Shore Excursion

10. Highlights of Walvis Bay, Dune 7 Shore Excursion

Start the day with pickup from your accommodation in Walvis Bay. After a short briefing and introduction, make your way out of the town towards Dune 7. Arrive at Dune 7 after approximately 20 minutes and enjoy some free time to climb up the sand and take photos. Head back towards town and then to the Walvis Bay Salt Refinery. This refinery produces a staggering 750,000 tons of salt per year, much of which is exported internationally. It covers an area of 4500 hectares and is in the process of expanding. See massive heaps of salt that looks like snow and bright pink-colored water basins. Then, travel out onto the peninsula with the calm lagoon to the right and the roaring Atlantic ocean to the left. Enjoy a drive to the very tip of Pelican Point and see wildlife, a shipwreck, and the Pelican Point Lighthouse along the way. The Lighthouse was built in 1932 and stands 35 meters high. It now offers luxury accommodation to its clients and offers complete relaxation in this unique area.   Once you reach the end of the peninsula, enjoy some free time to explore and take in the spectacular scenery surrounded by wildlife that includes the second-largest Cape Fur Seal colony in the country. Then, enjoy a lunch comprised of a variety of finger snacks, sparkling wine, local beers, water, soft drinks, and dessert. After lunch, travel towards Walvis Bay Lagoon. This lagoon in the southwest area of the town is regarded as one of the most important wetlands for birds along the southern African coast. The area is a feeding site for up to 50% of greater flamingos found in Southern Africa and also attracts other species like gulls, plovers, pelicans, and the endemic Damara Tern. Enjoy the sights and sounds of this spectacular lagoon before heading concluding the tour at your accommodation.

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What people are saying about Walvis Bay

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 291 reviews

Kurt was chatty, friendly and informative. The vehicle was top notch! Super clean. Like cleaner than my own vehicle!lol! Everyone was friendly and professional. They even provided a special meal for dietary restrictions! Totally impressive! Food and drink offering was generous, lavish and varied! This experience was everyone’s favourite activity of a 20 day trip!

This was incredible. Billy the guide was awesome and very informative. We had a baby seal come aboard and pelicans feeding. In addition to all the info on the bay we were provided with a terrific spread of food and drink, the atmosphere was brilliant. We were even provided with blankets. The best experience we had.

Wonderful experience! Our guide was immensely hospitable, endearing and knowledgeable. Gorgeous scenery and wildlife. An exhilarating drive with the 4x4 up and down the magnificent dunes. Tasty snacks and drinks too.

It was great. The team is great, we've seen a lot and learned a lot. There were fresh oysters for a snack. We were late because we were delayed in advance, they were waiting for us! Thanks for the nice trip.

We had an awesome time and highly recommend this activity!