Walvis Bay
Visited in July 2019
At a glance
- Country
- Namibia
- Region
- Erongo Region
- Population
- 102,704
- Best time to go
- All year
- Main airport
- Walvis Bay (WVB)
- Coordinates
- 22.96°S, 14.51°E
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Overview
Walvis Bay is Namibia's main port, a working town on a sheltered natural harbour between the Atlantic and the dunes of the Namib. It is less polished than Swakopmund up the road, but the wildlife is the reason to come.
Flocks of flamingos feed in the lagoon, seals and dolphins follow the boats out to Pelican Point, and just to the south the dunes plunge straight into the sea at Sandwich Harbour.
Things to see
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Photo: Ndatipo1998, CC BY-SA 4.0 Walvis Bay Lagoon
A shallow lagoon where thousands of flamingos and pelicans feed, best seen from the promenade.
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Photo: Lidine Mia, CC BY-SA 4.0 Pelican Point
A long sand spit with a lighthouse and a large seal colony, reached by boat or 4x4.
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Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 Dune 7
One of the tallest dunes in the area, a hard but rewarding climb just outside town.
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Photo: FC Georgio Georgio at fr.wikipedia, CC BY 1.0 Rhenish Mission Church
A small, prefabricated wooden church from the 1880s, among the oldest buildings in town.
Things to do
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Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0 Seal and dolphin cruise
Morning catamaran trips meet seals that climb aboard, dolphins and sometimes whales, with oysters and sparkling wine.
Find tours -
Photo: Rüdiger Wenzel, CC BY-SA 3.0 de Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tour
Drive along the beach and over towering dunes to a lagoon where the desert meets the ocean.
Find tours -
Photo: JJ Harrison ( https://www.jjharrison.com.au/ ), CC BY-SA 3.0 Kayak with seals
Paddle out from Pelican Point among curious, playful Cape fur seals.
Find tours -
Photo: Olga Ernst, CC BY-SA 4.0 Eat local oysters
Walvis Bay's oyster farms supply restaurants along the waterfront; try them fresh.
Where to stay
Lagoon
Guesthouses overlooking the water, perfect for birdwatchers and an early start.
Hotels in LagoonTown centre
Practical and close to the waterfront and restaurants.
Hotels in Town centreLong Beach
Holiday homes on the coast road towards Swakopmund, quieter and good for self-catering.
Hotels in Long Beach
Getting around
Taxis are available, but a hire car makes most sense; tours pick up from hotels.
The airport is about 15 km east of town, a 15-minute drive; Swakopmund is around 30 minutes up the coast.
When to go
The climate is mild and dry year-round, often with morning fog. Flamingo numbers vary through the year, and the calmest boat trips are usually in the morning.
Plan your trip to Walvis Bay
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Adventure travel insuranceWorld NomadsWe receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.