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- Destinations
- Africa
- Namibia
- Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay is often overlooked by tourists travelling to
Namibia. However on closer inspection the county's second largest
town has a lot to offer. Visitors to Walvis Bay get to step away
from the rat-race and enjoy the serene and lonely beauty of the
some of the country's most evocative desert scenery. The town is
the gateway to a host of endless dunes, freshwater lagoons,
birdlife, sea life and silence. The dunes just outside Walvis are
both majestic and tragic as they dissipate into the ocean in a
timeless battle that will never be concluded. The freshwater
lagoons found at the base of some of these dunes provide life to a
range of highly specialised and adapted desert wildlife. Visitors
to Namibia should not miss the opportunity of visiting this diamond
in Namibia's desert crown.
Aside from the awe-inspiring scenery, Walvis Bay offers a range
of other activities and sightseeing opportunities for adventurous
visitors or those who just want to relax and commune with the wind.
This seaside town is Namibia's only working sea port. 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.
Other 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 but it offers up something magical that few can resist.
Even the Hollywood glitterati like Billy Bob Thornton, Angelina
Jolie and Brad Pitt have fallen for its charm. Walvis is the
perfect place to relax, zone out and commune with your surroundings
as you sip a cold beer while watching the colours of the fiery
sunsets compete with the flamingos in the lagoon.
Information & Facts
Climate
Walvis Bay has a desert or arid climate, and is one of the
driest towns on the planet. However, 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 75°F (24°C) in summer (February) and 64°F (17°C) in
mid-winter (July). The town experiences no 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.
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) divided into
100 cents. Its value is equal to the South African Rand, which is
also accepted as legal currency in Namibia. Major credit cards are
accepted. Travellers cheques and foreign currency can be exchanged
at any bank or bureau de change, though cash is more expensive to
exchange than travellers cheques. ATMs are available in larger
towns only.
Sightseeing
Visitors to Walvis Bay are spoilt for choice when it comes to
sightseeing options. 4x4 trips to Sandwich Bay offer visitors the
opportunity to see some of the desert's most unique and rare
wildlife as well as amazing photo opportunities. Dune boarding is a
must for the adventurous and fishing, diving and dolphin viewing
excursions are fantastic opportunities to see the wealth of sea
life Walvis has on offer. Evenings are best spend sipping a
cocktail or ice cold beer while watching the flamingoes sift
through the waters of the lagoon.