Sandwich Harbour & Walvis Bay Marine Cruise

1. 1

   We time the day to the tides, setting the Sandwich Harbour leg around low water and fitting the cruise before or after it.

2. 2

   Your cruise leaves the Walvis Bay waterfront in the morning and heads toward Pelican Point, watching for dolphins, seals and seabirds on the way.

3. 3

   Back on shore, you meet your 4x4 and guide, who drives south along the lagoon edge and onto the beach, letting the tires down for the soft sand.

4. 4

   At Sandwich Harbour you climb a dune on foot for the view over the lagoon and the ocean, then walk the shore while your guide explains how fog sustains life here.

5. 5

   You head back while the tide is still low, often pausing for refreshments on a dune crest, and reach Swakopmund or Walvis Bay by late afternoon.

Walvis Bay waterfront and lagoon

Cruises leave from the harbor, and the lagoon, itself a protected wetland, is one of the best places on the coast to watch flamingos.

Pelican Point

The long sand spit sheltering the bay, with a large seal colony and a lighthouse. Kayak outings run here too, so read the note on seals below before you consider one.

Sandwich Harbour

Ramsar site no. 743 within Namib-Naukluft Park, reached only by 4x4 with an experienced guide. Day visits are the norm, and camping needs a permit.

Swakopmund as your base

A short drive north of Walvis Bay. Most tours collect you from your hotel, so there is no need to change bases for the day.

Good to know

• The CDC advises against getting close to or touching seals, even when a boat crew or anyone else says it is safe. Some seals have learned to climb aboard for fish; if one does, stay back and leave it to the crew.
• Kayaking at Pelican Point puts you among curious seals at water level, which sits uneasily with that advice, so while the advisory stands we suggest watching the colony from a boat instead. If any mammal bites or scratches you, wash the wound well and get medical care the same day.
• Dress for around 15 °C, fog and wind, even in December. A windproof jacket and a warm layer matter as much as sunscreen, which you still need.
• The bay is usually calm, but the swell can build near Pelican Point, so take motion-sickness tablets if you are prone. The dune driving is bumpy too, and not ideal for bad backs or pregnancy.
• Your guide handles the permits for Namib-Naukluft, and any park fees are shown in your quote. A revised park-fee schedule was reported from April 2026, so we confirm the current fees and rules when booking.