The port of Walvis Bay, Namibia sits on the west coast of Africa in the southeast corner of the Namib Desert. This vast coastal desert stretches approximately 1,200 miles along the Atlantic coast from Angola in the north, through Namibia, and into parts of South Africa. Renowned for its extreme age, the Namib is considered the oldest desert on Earth, having remained in an arid state for at least 55 million years.
Walvis Bay is Namibia’s main seaport and it also serves a large section of Southwest Africa beyond Namibia. With a population of over 103,000 the port and railheads are the economic heart of the city..
Walvis Bay offers a diverse array of natural and adventure-based attractions. One of the most iconic landmarks is Dune 7, one of the highest sand dunes in the world at around 1,200 feet. It is a popular destination for climbing and photography. The city’s coastal geography allows for unique experiences such as kayaking with seals, surfing down massive dunes, and exploring the coast near Pelican Point Lighthouse.
Where Your Ship Docks
Walvis Bay Port
Marina next to the port facility
The Walvis Bay seaport is a large indistrial facility and cruise ships are usually docked at the southern most pier. Access to the port by civilians is not permitted and cruise ship passangers will be directed to a clearly marked sidewalk out to the exit. Reentry to the port only requires you to show your seapass card at the gate. You’ll usually find numerous tour operators stationed just outside the exit. Generally Walvis Bay is very safe to explore on your own and the Flamingo Lagoon is less than a miles walk up the shore on a paved sidewalk above the beach.
Wheelchair Accessibility
Disembarking – This ports cruise ship pier is obsticke free but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. The pier disembarks right near downtown but there can be recessed railroad tracks to navigate. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate inclines to deal withalong with along with street curbs.
Currency
The local currency is the Namibian Dollar which is linked in value to the South African Rand which at this writing is 100 South African Rand equals 1 United States Dollar. The South African Rand is interchangeable with the local currency and US Dollars and Euros are often accepted.The local economy seems to operate on major credit cards and you will encounter hand-held credit card devices every where. ATM machines however are scarce.
While Namibian dollars are interchangable with South African Rand in Namibia their dollars are not accepted even in South Africa. If you exchange U.S Dollars for local currency or recieve Namibian Dollars as change you will not be able to exchange those for other currency after you leave Namibia (later consider them souvineers) .
Along the Walvis Bay waterfront
Transportation
For transportation in Walvis Bay the most reliable and convenient ride-share option is the Yango ride-hailing app if you need to get around the city. Other options include specialized shuttle services, private transfers, and a limited series of private van routes. Within the city limits, public infrastructure for walking or biking can be limited, leading most residents and visitors to rely on traditional taxis for local commutes. For those seeking more personalized or luxury experiences, private transfer services and specialized tourism companies like Super Travel Tours and Kiwitaxi offer tailored solutions
The People Of Namibia
The main language is English and considering that this is one of Africa’s poorest nations with an average annual family income of around US$15,000 the people are generally friendly and eager to talk and help visitors. (See To Namibia With Love HERE)
Safety And Crime
Walvis Bay is considered very safe for travelers and ranks as one of the safer destinations in Africa. However, like anywhere, visitors should remain vigilant against opportunistic crimes like pickpocketing and purse snatching—especially away from tourist areas and in the outskirts of town.
The Namib Desert
Local Attractions
Walvis Bay offers a diverse range of natural and historical attractions, primarily centered around its unique coastal landscape. One of the most iconic landmarks is Dune 7, the highest sand dune in the area, which is popular for climbing and sandboarding. Nature enthusiasts can explore the Flamingo Lagoon, where large colonies of birds gather, or visit the Pelican Point Lighthouse to see local marine life
Flamingo Lagoon
To see an example of available tours with Viator click HERE.*
*Viator is only one of several internationally recognized tour companies and was selected only to provide a sampling of available tours and attractions.
Reflections On Time Spent In Namibia
Recently I (we) spent some extended and unplanned time in Walvis Bay, Namibia. This isn’t the first time we’ve had an opportunity to get to know a number of local people as we’ve traveled but this was an eye opener for me. Namibia is one of the poorest nations in Africa with an annual per capita income of just over US$8,000. Generally Namibians are a friendly and outgoing people and considering their average income we were amazed at how content most people seemed and how prosperous the economy appeared.
One thing that has always puzzled me about economics is how varied the cost of living can be between various locations. Even in the United States the variation in the cost of groceries between the metropolitan areas where we have lived and rural locations in other states seemed far too wide to be explained by wages and maybe local agriculture? Namibia seemed to be the far extreme of this issue.
During my time in Walvis Bay I spent a number of nights in local hotels (one being a very nice Marriott) and ate in a number of restaurants* and I was constantly amazed at how inexpensive everything was. While there I was taken to the Dunes Mall to get a cellular sim card and again I was impressed at how low the prices in the mall were for clothes to groceries. A local that had taken me on as a project had decided that I needed a local sim card to help with communications. At the cellular store I was charged about US$2 for the sim and that included activation if done within 24 hours. After that I could load cell service and data as needed online which was also very inexpensive.
The general impression I was left with is that the people of Namibia don’t think of themselves as being poor. While Namibia has a long history of European colonial control as well as being dominated by various South African governments, since its independence on March 21, 1990 the country has dedicated itself to improving the circumstances of its people. Today Namibia has one of Africas highest literacy and lowest unemployment rates and its economy has seen significant growth year over year. Today Namibia is considered one of Africas safest and most peaceful nations with a real hope of a prosperous future.
A Introduction To Namibian History
Namibia is a vast, sparsely populated Southern African nation spanning almost 317,875 square miles (roughly the size of Texas and Louisiana combined). It is mostly desert having the worlds tallest known sand dune, Dune 7, located in the Namib Desert near Walvis Bay. It rises approximately 1,256 feet above sea level. Its Atlantic coast is famously known as the “skeleton coast of the Atlantic” for all the ships that have wrecked during storms on its shores.
Sincve independence this country has strived to become a truly idependent nation by improving education and expanding the job market. Namibia now has an adult literacy rate of approximately 92.3% for individuals aged 15 and older. This places Namibia significantly above the broader Sub-Saharan African average.
Namibia’s history spans from ancient indigenous roots to a long, brutal struggle with German colonization and South African apartheid, culminating in a hard-won independence on March 21, 1990. Today, it is recognized as a peaceful and stable democratic republic.
The country supports a young, population of only 2.1 million people based on the most recent census count centered mostly in Windhoek, the capital, Walvis Bay, its major seaport and several smaller coastal towns. Additional populations of original indigenous groups remain difficult to count accurately. There is currently a push on tho have the rural population to register new births with the government.
Historically rooted in its colonial past with a long, brutal struggle through German colonization and South African apartheid, that culminated in a hard-won independence on March 21, 1990. Today, it is recognized as a peaceful and stable democratic republic. It’s economy is centered on its seaport, a growing tourist industry with an average per capita income for the population residing in the cities of about US$4,000 to US$4,700.
The Original Inhabitants – While representing a small percentage of its modern population the original indigenous groups date back thousands of years.
The San (Bushmen): Represent less than 5% of the population but are known as the first inhabitants of the southern continent of Africa, they have lived in the region for tens of thousands of years. They are mostly hunter-gatherers and include a number of subgroups such as the Khwe, Haiom, and Juhoansi. Many still reside in the eastern Otjozondjupa Region (Tsumkwe District) and the Zambezi Region.
Additional populations include:
The Ovahimba (Himba): Arguably Namibia’s most well-known traditional tribe. They are semi-nomadic pastoralists living primarily in the semi-arid Kunene Region (formerly Kaokoland) in the northwest. They are easily recognized by their distinct hairstyles and the red ochre paste they use to protect their skin from the sun.
The Nama: A Khoe-speaking group known for their distinctive click consonants. Traditionally descending from the Khoekhoe, they are concentrated in central and southern Namibia.
The Damara (ǂNūkhoen): One of the other oldest groups in Namibia. Traditionally hunter-gatherers who also practiced small-scale herding, they reside primarily in the rocky scrublands of Damaraland.
Other Groups: Include the Ovatjimba, Ovatwa, and Ovazemba. These are minority pastoralist and hunter-gatherer communities often found living in the mountainous regions near the Himba in the northwest.
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