# Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay is a city of 62,000 (2011) on Namibia's Atlantic coast. It has the country's only commercial port. It is famous as a place to see large numbers of flamingoes and rare migratory birds.

## Get in
### By car

The fastest route from Windhoek is the tarred main road B2. It takes 5 hours and passes through Swakopmund, a coastal town 35 km (20 minutes) drive north of Walvis Bay.

### By plane

* -22.97972214.6452781 Walvis Bay Airport (WVB ). South African Express offers flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg. (updated Jul 2023)

### By minibus

Minibuses from Windhoek (departure from the taxi rank closed to Rhino Park hospital, 110N$) or from Swakopmund (taxi rank out of town, 25N$) are available throughout the day. Not too comfortable, but the true African way of travelling.

### By bus

Although the minibuses are slightly cheaper and are an experience, they have no fixed time schedule and are often overloaded. So check out these operators:
* Intercape operates a service from Windhoek via Okahandja and Swakopmund. Intercape service also extends to South Africa and Zimbabwe.
* Econolux Tel +264 64 205935 operates a service to Cape Town twice a week

### By train

The national train company TransNamib runs an overnight service from the capital Windhoek via Swakopmund daily, except Saturdays. There are economy and business class seats, but no sleepers.
* -22.954114.5012 Walvis Bay railway station. (updated May 2021)

### By ship

The RMS St Helena no longer makes regular round-trips from St Helena Island to Cape Town via Walvis Bay. The service ceased in 2018.

## Get around

Cars can be hired at Walvis Bay Airport.

## See

* The Walvis Bay Lagoon is just south-west of town, a wetland for migratory birds. The Lagoon is a habitat for flamingos and the endangered Damara tern.
* For a larger and more impressive wetland and flamingo colony, visit Sandwich Harbour, a bay and lagoon 45 km (28 mi) south of town. You will need a 4x4 to navigate the sand.
* -22.9577514.507121 Walvis Bay Museum, 12th Rd. M-F 09:00-17:00. Exhibits showcasing natural science, culture, history, Namib archaeology, maritime, gemstones, etc (updated Sep 2020)

## Do

There are quite some activities to do in Walvis Bay.
* Dolphin and whale watching, Atlantic street, ☏ +264 811280635, bookings@laramontours.com. Oysters and sparkling wine included. Very nice guide and staff. Spotted dolphins, whales and seals. Mola Mola (+264 64 205 511) also offers dolphin and seal cruises.
* Dune boarding. Buy a dune board in town and head 6km out of town to Dune 7 for an inexpensive thrill.
* Fishing, ☏ +264 64 2016111. Rods can be rented. You need a fishing permit though which can be bought at the Ministry of Fisheries for 14 N$ for 30 days (Inspectorate Office, 1st Street, daily 08:00-13:00). Speak to the locals about the various fishing spots.
* Kite surfing. Head on down to the lagoon to ride the waves. Lessons and equipment available.
* Surfing. Pro surfers come from around the globe when the conditions are right to surf the world's longest left-hand break with a sandy bottom at Donkey Bay, also known as Skeleton Bay, on the long Pelican Point sand spit that protects the port of Walvis Bay. You'll need a 4x4 vehicle to get to that spot. (updated Jul 2018)
* -22.919814.52661 Vambo Beach. Beach area for Walvis Bay. (updated Sep 2020)

## Eat

* -22.956514.50051 Crazy Mama's, Sam Nujoma Ave. Funky bistro with beer garden, child friendly. Pizza, salad and vegetarian options. Main course around N$ 150, light meal N$ 100, steak N$ 200. (updated Feb 2020)
* Probst Willi Bakery. A German cafe serving some of the best sandwiches. Try the "rawhak" roll.

### Splurge

* The Raft Restaurant, The Esplanade (on a pier opposite the Pelican Bay Hotel), ☏ +264 64 204877. A large top-class restaurant with great atmosphere, on a pier in the lagoon. The main restaurant offers a huge a la carte menu. There's also a bistro offering great views, wood-fired pizzas and the best burgers for miles. Also has a lively bar. A must if you are in Walvis Bay.

## Sleep

* -22.961114.482681 Protea Hotel by Marriott (Pelican Bay Hotel (former name)), The Explanade, ☏ +264 64214000. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Right on Walvis Bay lagoon, new rooms on landscaped grounds with pool and gym. (updated Oct 2022)
* -22.9604514.488822 Langholm Hotel, 18-22 2nd Street West, Lagoon (Off 5th Road, turn left into 2nd Str West.), ☏ +264 64 209230. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. Great facility, friendly and helpful staff, great fun the NightCap bar - feels like home from home. Should be first choice for all persons visiting Walvis Bay. from N$655.