Walvis Bay Sights: Nature, Industry, History

October 31, 2026

Walvis Bay’s sights fall into three groups: natural wonders, working industry and a thin slice of history. Few of them are ornamental, and several need a vehicle, so decide early whether you will hire a car, take a tour or stick to the waterfront. Layers help, because fog is common and often lifts only by midday. Costs are in Namibian dollars (N$), tied to the South African rand at one to one.

Nature

The lagoon. Ramsar site no. 742, the Walvis Bay Wetland, is a protected area of 12,600 hectares designated on 23 August 1995. It takes in the lagoon, the tidal flats, the salt works and Pelican Point. Greater and Lesser Flamingos feed here in tens of thousands, and total waterbird counts reach many tens of thousands, rising between September and April. It serves as a nursery for young African black oystercatchers and as a feeding and wintering area for other birds. See the Ramsar record . Watch from Esplanade Park and the Waterfront, ideally around mid to high tide.

Dune 7. Dune 7 stands about 10 km east of the town in the Dorob National Park and rises roughly 380 to 388 m. Entry is charged on a scale based on nationality and age, so confirm the fee at the gate. The climb takes about 25 to 50 minutes, and the sand is scorching by midday.

Pelican Point. The sandspit that shelters the bay carries a seal colony of tens of thousands of Cape fur seals. You get there by 4x4 or boat, and the distance is about 32 to 45 km depending on the route. It is not a walk from town.

Industry

The salt works. Pans covering about 3,500 hectares turn out over a million tonnes of salt a year. Their pink and green shades come from salt-tolerant microorganisms, and flamingos crowd the evaporation ponds. There is no visitor centre, so look from the road to Pelican Point or from a tour.

The harbour. Namibia’s main port moved to a larger container terminal in August 2019. Cruise passengers can join shore excursions to Swakopmund, Dune 7 and the lagoon.

History

Rhenish Mission Church. This church came in sections from Hamburg and was assembled beside the harbour in 1880. Ask locally whether it is open before you go.

A short timeline. Britain took its first steps toward annexation in 1878 and the Cape Colony completed the process in 1884. South Africa held the territory from 1910, and sovereignty passed to Namibia on 1 March 1994. Colonial German architecture is in Swakopmund, 30 to 35 km north, not here.

Pelican Point lighthouse

Rising about 35 m beside the seals, the lighthouse is seen from a tour or boat. Pelican Point Lodge sits next to it.

Booking

For guided viewing and boat trips, try Viator .