Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay sits on Namibia's coast where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic. The lagoon next to the port has one of the largest flamingo populations in southern Africa, with thousands of greater flamingos feeding in the shallows alongside pelicans and other wading birds. Boat tours from the harbour pass Cape fur seals, dolphins, and occasionally whales. Dune 7, the tallest accessible dune in the area, is a short drive from town and popular for sandboarding. Sandwich Harbour, a remote coastal lagoon about 50 kilometres south, is reachable only by 4WD and has dramatic scenery where the dunes drop directly into the ocean. Swakopmund, a German colonial town 30 kilometres north, has cafés, a brewery, and a promenade. Fresh oysters, farmed in the bay, are the local speciality. The Namibian dollar and the South African rand are both accepted. English is widely spoken.