TRAVEL GUIDE: WALVIS BAY & SWAKOPMUND IN NAMIBIA, AFRICA
Namibia is a beautiful country located in southwest Africa known for its Namib Desert that covers a massive area along the Atlantic Ocean and different wildlife, in particular cheetahs. Windhoek is the capital city of Namibia but many visitors to Namibia flock to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay areas because of the Atlantic Ocean and its proximity to the best area of the desert—Sossusvlei.
The coastal town of Swakopmund was influenced by German living and architecture. It is very close to the port town, Walvis Bay, which means “Whale Bay” is known for its seafood, lagoon filled with flamingos and other birds, Dune 7 in the Amin Desert. Many other iconic attractions in Namibia require visitors to take a road trip to reach them. You will need a 4×4 car for these road trips.
Places to See in Walvis Bay & Swakopmund, Namibia
Bird Sanctuary Park
Bird Park | Flamingos
Bird Sanctuary is located on the C14 road as you are coming from Walvis Bay or Swakopmund; you can see pink flamingos and other birds from the road. The sanctuary is man-made; water pools were created for the birds to play in and drink the readily available water. People can park their cars and take a small nature walk watching the birds.
DUNE 7
Desert Safari
Namibia is known for the Namib Desert and dunes that cover some parts of the country. For people visiting Walvis Bay or Swakopmund, Dune 7 is one of the best attractions and is the tallest dune in this area. It is a must-see—especially for those not able to drive a long distance to see the Big Daddy Dune or other well-known dunes at Sossusvlei.
WALVIS BAY WATERFRONT
Seaside
Walvis Bay is known for its beautiful coastline. The views of the Atlantic Ocean and the desert are stunning. Right on the Walvis Bay Waterfront, you will find the famous Anchors @ the Jetty Restaurant, where you will find the best Calamari. The Waterfront is also a place where boats take off to embark on tours, such as dolphin cruise tours.
Boat cruise tours here are perfect in the evening when the sun is setting. But other times have magical moments too. Tourists see seals, pelicans, and other animals. The lucky ones see dolphins or whales. Fresh seafood and champagne are served.
THE NATIONAL MARINE AQUARIUM OF NAMIBIA
Aquarium
The National Marine Aquarium of Namibia is the only aquarium in Namibia, it is found in Swakopmund. Plenty of sea life species are found at the aquarium. The aquarium is located on the beachfront, at 1 Strand Street in Swakopmund. See their website for opening hours.
The Swakopmund and Walvis Bay areas are known for their seafood—different species of fish are in abundance. The National Marine Aquarium exhibits different types of fish and sea life, as well as educational programs.
NAMIBIA-NAUKLUFT NATIONAL PARK
Safari | Desert & Animals
Namib-Naukluft National Park is an enormous land that is protected, ecologically, and covers most of the west of Namibia. The whole area is about 49,800 km². The Namib-Naukluft National Park has four main parts that are also some of the best attractions in Namibia: 1) The Namib Desert, 2) The Naukluft Mountains, 3) The Sandwich Harbour, 4) Sossusvlei and Sesriem areas.
The entrance of the Namib-Naukluft National Park is not that far from Walvis Bay or Swakopmund. You can take the C14 road that will lead you to the D1982 road and thereafter to the entrance of the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
There are so many things to do around the main attractions of the Park—climbing dunes, seeing flamingos, game drives, guided hiking, hot air ballooning, star gazing, and etcetera.
Animals found there are cheetahs, zebras, leopards, oryx, giraffe, bat-eared fox, springbuck, and more.
HOHENZOLLERNHAUS
Historical Landmark
Hohenzollernhaus is a historical landmark in Swakopmund, Namibia. It is located on Albertina Amathila Avenue. The building is interesting because of its Neo-Baroque style and colorful paint—it was built in the early 1900s as a hotel, making it one of the oldest houses in Swakopmund, but now it is a condominium. You may be able to find accommodation in this building on hotel booking platforms like Airbnb.
Like many other buildings in Swakopmund, Hohenzollernhaus is influenced by German living and style. Because of its proximity to the beach, the building is easily accessible by tourists who are at the beach or eating in the restaurants around the beach. Next to the Hohenzollernhaus building, there is a colorful gift shop called The Made in Namibia Collection. Welwitschia Restaurant is also located nearby.
WOERMANNHAUS
Historical Landmark
Woermannhaus is a historical landmark on Bismarck Street in Swakopmund. It is a cultural place where Germany-influenced architecture is showcased and the background of the place told. The tower is the best point where the view of Swakopmund can be seen. There is a small fee to enter the Woermannhaus building.
SOSSUSVLEI & SESRIEM
Desert Safari
Sossusvlei and Sesriem areas are part of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, Sossusvlei is the main attraction of the Park.
Go to Sossusvlei to see the best parts of the Namibian desert showcasing very old trees standing tall (Deadvlei) and some of the biggest dunes in the world (Dune 45 and Big Daddy Dune). You must have a 4 X 4 car to get to Sossusvlei. There are also guided tours that you can find on Viator or Get Your Guide. If you are driving yourself, plan to spend a full day for this visit— it takes a couple of hours (about four and a half hours) to get there from Walvis Bay or Swakopmund.
To enjoy Sossusvlei, you might need to spend a night at a nearby hotel to get up very early, when it is nice and cool to climb the dunes. To have an effective tour and save time, split your visit into two parts; go to Deadvlei Parking for Deadvlei and Big Daddy Dune, then go to Dune 45 Parking first for Dune 45.
Sesriem is a Namib Desert settlement that is very close to Sossusvlei and Naukluft Mountains. The Sesriem area is important because it has Sesriem Gate—which is considered the main entrance to the Namib-Naukluft National Park for visitors of Sossusvlei.
JETTY PIER IN SWAKOPMUND
Pier | Beach
Jetty Pier – End of Pier in Swakopmund is a nice area to chill and take in the beautiful views of the ocean while standing on the Pier or one of the restaurants there; the most popular restaurant there is Jetty 1905 Restaurant. People also visit the public beach, both locals and tourists lounge on the sand and dip in the Atlantic Ocean.
DESERT EXPLORERS
Activities Guide
Desert Explorers is an adventure center that is good for the adventurous traveler as well as families with kids. Located on Nathaniel Maxuilili in Swakopmund, Desert Explorers has quad bikes, camels, and offers activities around the dunes.
