Walvis Bay Travel Guide
Though tourists visiting Namibia often overlook Walvis Bay, the country's second-largest city has a lot to offer. The town is the gateway to birdlife, sea creatures and silence, and the freshwater lagoons found within the endless sand dunes provide life to a variety of highly unique desert wildlife.
Aside from the awe-inspiring scenery, Walvis Bay offers a range of other activities and sightseeing opportunities for adventurous visitors, as well as those who just want to relax and commune with the wind. Walvis Bay is the perfect base from which to explore the surrounding desert regions, including the beautiful Sandwich Bay and Cape fur seal colony at Cape Cross, and the nearby seaside resort of Swakopmund. Popular activities include deep-sea fishing excursions, dune-boarding, dolphin watching, and scuba diving.
Walvis may be a small dusty town along Namibia's barren and harsh coastline, with hot days, cool nights and mornings shrouded in sea fog. However, it offers up something magical that few can resist. It is the perfect place for travellers to relax, zone out and commune with the surroundings as they sip a cold beer, all while watching a fiery sunset frame the flamingos in the lagoon.
Things to do in Walvis Bay
Visitors to Walvis Bay are spoilt for choice when it comes to sightseeing options; 4x4 trips to Sandwich Bay offer travellers the opportunity to see and photograph some of the desert's most unique and rare wildlife, and dune boarding is a must for the adventurous. Fishing, diving, and dolphin viewing excursions allow visitors to explore the fantastic wealth of sea life. Sipping cocktails or cold beers while watching flamingos sift through the waters of the lagoon is the best way to spend an evening.
Walvis Bay Climate and Weather
Walvis Bay has a desert or arid climate, and is one of the driest towns on the planet. Despite its lack of rainfall, Walvis is not an overly hot place. The cold Atlantic Ocean and the prevailing offshore currents ensure that the temperature in Walvis averages around 7°F (24C) in summer, between November and February, and 64F (17C) in winter, between June and August.
The town experiences no real humidity, but in the evenings a dense sea fog often rolls in off the ocean. This fog can sometimes be quite thick and most animals in the region use it as their principal source of moisture in the unforgiving desert climate.
The little rain that does fall arrives in late summer and spring, mostly in March, with a little in January and February as well. The pleasantly mild temperatures of Walvis Bay, in comparison to the rest of the desert, make it a great destination in summer as well as winter.
Although the best time for game viewing in Namibia is between May and October, bird watching is often at its best in summer, and Walvis Bay is one of the most temperate destinations to use as a travel hub during the fiercely hot summer months.
Namibia travel info
Electricity
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are standard.
Language
English is the official language, but many people also speak Afrikaans and German. There are also several indigenous languages spoken, mainly in the rural areas.
Money
The official currency is the Namibian Dollar (NAD), which is divided into 100 cents. Its value is equal to the South African Rand, which is accepted as legal currency in Namibia. Major credit cards are accepted, while foreign currency can be exchanged at any bank or bureau de change. ATMs may not be available in remote areas.
Tipping
Tips of 10 percent are expected where a service charge has not been included in the bill. Tour guides, game rangers, and trackers rely on tips for their income and should be tipped accordingly.
Health
Typhoid, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccinations are recommended for travel to Namibia. Safety regulations in Namibia require all visitors who are over the age of nine months to have a yellow fever certificate if they're arriving from a country with a risk of transmission. There is a malaria risk in the northern region of Namibia during the rainy season (January to April).
There has been an increase in the cases of rabies among dogs in Windhoek, so travellers at risk of animal bites should consider a rabies vaccination; everyone five years of age and older should get fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before visiitng. HIV/AIDS is prevalent and precautions are essential, although travellers are seldom at risk unless engaging in unprotected sex. Cholera outbreaks do occur, so visitors should drink only boiled or bottled water, avoiding ice in drinks.
There are good medical facilities in Windhoek, but medical insurance is essential as treatment is expensive. Outside of the main cities, medical treatment may be hard to come by. Travellers to Namibia should seek medical advice at least four weeks prior to departure. For peace of mind, it is best to take prescription medications along when travelling. Medicines should be kept in their original packaging and accompanied by a signed and dated letter from a doctor, detailing why the medication is needed.
Safety
The majority of visits to Namibia are safe and trouble free, but muggers in Windhoek sometimes target foreign tourists. Theft from vehicles does occur, especially at service stations, so valuables should be kept out of sight and cars should be locked. Travellers should avoid using taxis if possible and should never take one alone. It's best to be especially careful when travelling in the Caprivi Strip; drivers should use it during daylight hours only, both for general safety and to avoid livestock, which wander onto roads causing accidents. The terrorism threat in Namibia is very low, with no major incidents of violence against foreigners reported.
Local customs
It is best to check before taking pictures of State House or properties where the President is residing, as well as any buildings guarded by the army or police. Some sexual relations between men are criminalised in Namibia, although these laws may not always be enforced.
Doing business
Business in Namibia is somewhat formal, although drinking and socialising are an important part of building good working relationships. Standard business etiquette applies. Dress tends to be formal, though lightweight materials tend to be worn in the hotter seasons, and punctuality is important. People shake hands on greeting and leaving, and are generally polite and professional. English is the language of business, though German and Afrikaans are widely spoken. Business hours are usually 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Duty free
Travellers to Namibia over 16 years do not have to pay duty on 400 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco; 2 litres wine and 1 litre spirits or liquor; 50ml perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; and gifts to the value of NAD 1,250.
Communications
The international access code for Namibia is +264. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). Large parts of the country are not covered by the mobile network, so a satellite phone is a good backup option for those heading off the beaten track. WiFi is increasingly available in hostels, hotels, lodges and guesthouses; travellers can purchase local prepaid SIM cards for unlocked phones.
Passport & Visa
All foreign passengers to Namibia must have confirmed return or onward tickets, and the necessary travel documentation for their next destination. Additionally, visitors should ensure that they have at least two blank pages remaining in their passports for entry and departure endorsements from the Namibian Immigration Service. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required to enter Namibia if visitors are arriving from or have transited through an infected area. All travellers must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of intended stay in Namibia.
Entry requirements
US citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond their planned date of departure, and at least three completely blank pages are required for entry. No visa is required for tourist or business-related stays of up to three months.
British passports should be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Namibia and have at least one completely blank page for Namibian immigration to use. If British travellers are also visiting South Africa, they should be aware that although South African authorities state they require one blank passport page for entry, some officials insist on two blank pages. If travellers plan to take this route, they should make sure they have a total of three blank pages. No visa is required for tourist or business-related stays of up to three months.
Canadian passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the date of entry to Namibia, but no visa is required for tourist or business-related stays of up to three months.
Australian passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the date of entry to Namibia, but no visa is required for tourist or business-related stays of up to three months.
South African passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the date of entry to Namibia, but no visa is required for tourist or business-related stays of up to three months.
Irish passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the date of entry to Namibia, but no visa is required for tourist or business-related stays of up to three months.
New Zealand passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the date of entry to Namibia, but no visa is required for tourist or business-related stays of up to three months.
Useful contacts
Namibian Tourist Office, Windhoek: +264 (0)61 290 6000 or info@namibiatourism.com.na or www.namibiatourism.com.na
112 (fire and rescue, police, medical emergencies)Embassies / consulates in other countries
Embassy of Namibia, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada): +1 202 986 0540.
Namibia High Commission, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7636 6244.
Namibia High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 481 9100.
Embassies / consulates in Namibia
United States Embassy, Windhoek: +264 (0)61 295 8500.
British High Commission, Windhoek: +264 (0)61 274 800.
Canadian Consulate, Windhoek: +264 (0)61 251 254.
Australian High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Namibia): +27 (0)12 423 6000.
South African High Commission, Windhoek: +264 (0)61 205 7111.
Irish Embassy, Lusaka, Zambia (also responsible for Namibia): +260 211 291 298.
New Zealand High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa (also responsible for Namibia): +27 (0)12 435 9000.