Sandy days in Walvis Bay

On the West coast of Namibia, surrounded by the large desert dunes lies Walvis Bay, a city of both natural beauty and economic importance to the region. The Walvis Bay name derives from the Afrikaans term for whale, literally meaning Bay of Whales. The city, located just North of the Tropic of Capricorn is the perfect place for travellers to stock up and replenishing supplies before continuing their journey. The city is formed around a natural bay, which forms a deep-water harbour, allowing larger sea vessels to dock here. The bay also forms the Walvis Bay lagoon, creating a natural environment filled with birdlife.

To take a break from camping we stayed at Lagoon Chalets on the Southern end of the town. Lagoon Chalets offers good value for money but if you prefer camping, they have camping sites on premise alongside a restaurant and bar. The receptionists are very knowledgeable and can assist you in booking activities for your time in the area and its surrounds. The Southern end of the city is located a bit out of the business district but more importantly, it’s central to the exits leading to the salt works, Pelican Point and Dune 7.

During the summer months, more than 150 000 birds flock to Walvis bay as part of their annual migration routes. This turns the area into a buzz of feathered activity and visitors, even non-twitchers will be left in awe of the masses of birds in the area. About 65% of these birds are made up of brightly coloured flamingos. Among the flamingos, you will also be able to tick off Pelicans, Caspian Terns, Damara Terns, Great Crested Grebes and Cape Cormorants.

Following the D1986 road out of town will take you to the salt works with the lagoon on one hand and dunes on the other. The 3500-hectare area supplies about 90% of Southern Africa’s salt by creating salt pans from seawater that evaporates. The road past the salt works right up to the Paaltjies fishing and picnic area should be reachable with a sedan, but the wind may cause the road to be covered with sand so check with locals before departing.

From the Paaltjies fishing area, you will need a 4×4 to continue your journey. Heading North will take you to Pelican Point, a famous seals gathering spot featuring a lighthouse turned luxury lodge. The 13 kilometre stretch of the beach should not be attempted without 4×4 as the deep sand can easily cause unsuspecting drivers to get stuck. The drive across the beach is well worth the effort though. You have a couple of water crossings through the lagoon, there is an opportunity to see jackal on the beach and the multitudes of seals and birds will make for perfect photo opportunities. The Pelican Point Lodge does not allow day visitors but drive past it to the shoreline and enjoy a cup of coffee from your flask. On your return, be sure to stop and log the geocache close by.

If you do not have the means to travel offroad, Dune 7 will sort out any feelings you have that you are missing out on what Walvis Bay has to offer. The 380 metres high dune is the highest in Namibia, higher even than the giants near Sossusvlei. Rent a sandboard from one of the adventure companies operating in the area and go explore the dune from top to bottom. If you are more inclined to motorized transport many companies offer quad bikes or trips is off-road buggies.

After a full day in the sun, head back to Walvis Bay and enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in the city. The area near the Walvis Bay Yacht club offers a couple of restaurants with views over the harbour and the bay surrounding it.

This post forms part of our 2019 Namibia Road Trip. We planned an epic road trip the months leading up to June and it was worth every bit of planning, research and expense. We visited Augrabies, Fish River Canyon, Luderitz, Aus and Spitzkoppe to name only a few. We recommend the trip to anyone who wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We will try to give as much up to date information as possible in this series of articles but recommend you check the local websites for the latest information before embarking on your journey.