What to do in Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay

Supposedly the world’s longest palm-tree-lined avenue welcomes you to the sailor’s town of Walvis Bay. Here, industry, food and the social scene revolves around the ocean. The harbour is ranked one of the best in Southern Africa and services our land-locked neighbouring countries. On the outskirts of Walvis Bay is the largest producer of solar sea salt in sub-Saharan Africa. It is also one of four Ramsar sites in the country, a birding paradise of international importance and a great attraction for birders and just about everyone else.

The Walvis Bay Yacht Club, an old, charming and uncertified national monument, is the home of local water activity. If ever you fret about sailors being a dying breed, or mollycoddling your own children, spend a Saturday on the deck at the yacht club. Kids of all ages venture out onto the water, some in twoperson training boats, others on bigger catamarans. Did I mention the adults sit at bay and supervise from afar? It’s ridiculously refreshing, both the food and drinks served by the restaurant, and witnessing a fraction of this generation being so brave, disciplined and simply outdoors.

Kayak with Cape Fur Seals

While catamaran tours are widely available in Walvis Bay, an extra special experience is kayaking at Pelican Point. The peninsula stretching around the lagoon is home to a large colony of cape fur seals. Kayaking tours transport guests from Walvis Bay to Pelican Point, from where you will paddle out amongst the mammals, which will likely swim and splash in the water around you, or lazily lie on the beach. Catamarans cannot possibly get you this close to the animals. However tempting it may be, please do not touch the seals.

Birdwatch by the Lagoon

One of the best bits about Walvis Bay is its pedestrian friendly promenade that meanders alongside the lagoon. Pelicans, Flamingos, Cormorants and many more migratory birds breed and feed here throughout the year. Some parts of the promenade have benches, perfect for binoculars, and a keen photographer could sit down by the water’s edge and photograph them for hours. Locals stroll along the lagoon, walking their dogs and having picnics.

Explore the Kuiseb Delta

The larger Walvis Bay area is a natural wonderland including Sandwich Harbour and the Kuiseb River’s meeting with the sea. Kuiseb Delta Adventures is currently the only tour operator that offers quad bike trips into the Kuiseb Delta and surrounding desert landscapes. Not only is this land an arid Eden to fill your camera roll with, the area is also very historically and ecologically significant.

TO WALVIS BAY AND BEYOND

FlyNamibia between Eros Airport in Windhoek and Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Walvis Bay and Oranjemund, as well as between Hosea Kutako International Airport and Cape Town.

www.flynamibia.com.na

Charene Labuschagne