Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay is a city of 62,000 (2011) on Namibia's Atlantic coast. It has the country's only commercial port. It is famous as a place to see large numbers of flamingoes and rare migratory birds.

Understand

Walvis Bay
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.9     20 15       1.4     19 14       4.4     20 15       0.4     19 13       0.9     20 12       1     19 11       0     18 11       0.2     17 10       0.1     16 10       0.2     17 12       0.4     18 12       0.1     20 14 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Source:w:Walvis Bay#Climate
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       0     69 59       0.1     66 58       0.2     69 58       0     66 55       0     67 54       0     66 52       0     65 51       0     62 50       0     60 51       0     62 53       0     64 54       0     67 57 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Get in

By car

The fastest route from Windhoek is the tarred main road B2. It takes 5 hours and passes through Swakopmund, a coastal town 35 km (20 minutes) drive north of Walvis Bay.

By plane

• 1 Walvis Bay Airport (WVB  ^IATA). South African Express offers flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg. (updated Jul 2023)

By minibus

Minibuses from Windhoek (departure from the taxi rank closed to Rhino Park hospital, 110N$) or from Swakopmund (taxi rank out of town, 25N$) are available throughout the day. Not too comfortable, but the true African way of travelling.

By bus

Although the minibuses are slightly cheaper and are an experience, they have no fixed time schedule and are often overloaded. So check out these operators:

• Intercape operates a service from Windhoek via Okahandja and Swakopmund. Intercape service also extends to South Africa and Zimbabwe.
• Econolux Tel +264 64 205935 operates a service to Cape Town twice a week

By train

The national train company TransNamib runs an overnight service from the capital Windhoek via Swakopmund daily, except Saturdays. There are economy and business class seats, but no sleepers.

• 2 Walvis Bay railway station. (updated May 2021)

By ship

The RMS St Helena no longer makes regular round-trips from St Helena Island to Cape Town via Walvis Bay. The service ceased in 2018.

Get around

Cars can be hired at Walvis Bay Airport.

See

• The Walvis Bay Lagoon is just south-west of town, a wetland for migratory birds. The Lagoon is a habitat for flamingos and the endangered Damara tern.
• For a larger and more impressive wetland and flamingo colony, visit Sandwich Harbour, a bay and lagoon 45 km (28 mi) south of town. You will need a 4x4 to navigate the sand.
• 1 Walvis Bay Museum, 12th Rd. M-F 09:00-17:00. Exhibits showcasing natural science, culture, history, Namib archaeology, maritime, gemstones, etc (updated Sep 2020)

Do

Phoenicopterus roseus in Walvis Bay

Panoramic view of the salt flats of Walvis Bay

There are quite some activities to do in Walvis Bay.

• Dolphin and whale watching, Atlantic street, ☏ +264811280635, bookings@laramontours.com. Oysters and sparkling wine included. Very nice guide and staff. Spotted dolphins, whales and seals.
  Mola Mola (+264 64 205 511) also offers dolphin and seal cruises. 
• Dune boarding. Buy a dune board in town and head 6km out of town to Dune 7 for an inexpensive thrill. 
• Fishing, ☏ +264 64 2016111. Rods can be rented. You need a fishing permit though which can be bought at the Ministry of Fisheries for 14 N$ for 30 days (Inspectorate Office, 1st Street, daily 08:00-13:00). Speak to the locals about the various fishing spots. 
• Kite surfing. Head on down to the lagoon to ride the waves. Lessons and equipment available. 
• Surfing. Pro surfers come from around the globe when the conditions are right to surf the world's longest left-hand break with a sandy bottom at Donkey Bay, also known as Skeleton Bay, on the long Pelican Point sand spit that protects the port of Walvis Bay. You'll need a 4x4 vehicle to get to that spot. (updated Jul 2018)
• 1 Vambo Beach. Beach area for Walvis Bay. (updated Sep 2020)

Eat

• 1 Crazy Mama's, Sam Nujoma Ave. Funky bistro with beer garden, child friendly. Pizza, salad and vegetarian options. Main course around N$ 150, light meal N$ 100, steak N$ 200. (updated Feb 2020)
• Probst Willi Bakery. A German cafe serving some of the best sandwiches. Try the "rawhak" roll. 

Splurge

• The Raft Restaurant, The Esplanade (on a pier opposite the Pelican Bay Hotel), ☏ +264 64 204877. A large top-class restaurant with great atmosphere, on a pier in the lagoon. The main restaurant offers a huge a la carte menu. There's also a bistro offering great views, wood-fired pizzas and the best burgers for miles. Also has a lively bar. A must if you are in Walvis Bay. 

Sleep

• 1 Protea Hotel by Marriott (Pelican Bay Hotel (former name)), The Explanade, ☏ +26464214000. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Right on Walvis Bay lagoon, new rooms on landscaped grounds with pool and gym. (updated Oct 2022)
• 2 Langholm Hotel, 18-22 2nd Street West, Lagoon (Off 5th Road, turn left into 2nd Str West.), ☏ +264 64 209230. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. Great facility, friendly and helpful staff, great fun the NightCap bar - feels like home from home. Should be first choice for all persons visiting Walvis Bay. from N$655.