Walvis Bay, Coastal port city in Namibia
The natural deepwater harbor of Walvis Bay stretches along the Atlantic Ocean, protected by the Pelican Point sand spit on the western coast of Namibia.
Europeans discovered Walvis Bay in 1485, with Dutch sailors establishing it as a strategic stopover point between Cape Town and the Netherlands by the late 18th century.
The municipal council represents the multicultural residents through local governance, while educational institutions include the Namibian Maritime and Fisheries Institute.
The port connects to Windhoek via the TransNamib Railway and B2 road, serving as a major logistics hub for southern African cargo transportation.
The waters near Walvis Bay contain high concentrations of plankton, drawing numerous southern right whales to the protected bay throughout the year.
Location: Erongo Region
Inception: 1840
Elevation above the sea: 6 m
Website: https://walvisbaycc.org.na
GPS coordinates: -22.95576,14.50711
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:45
Namibia offers travelers a diverse landscape of natural wonders and historical landmarks that span vast desert plains, dramatic canyons, and protected wildlife reserves. The country's attractions range from Etosha National Park, where large herds gather at waterholes across more than 8,500 square miles (22,000 square kilometers) of protected land, to the towering red dunes of Sossusvlei rising 1,000 feet (300 meters) above white salt pans. Fish River Canyon cuts 100 miles (160 kilometers) through the southern landscape, while along the Atlantic coast, the Skeleton Coast preserves the remains of ships lost in foggy waters and hosts thriving seal colonies. Rock engravings at Twyfelfontein, created by San peoples over 6,000 years ago, document ancient wildlife and spiritual practices through more than 2,500 carvings in red sandstone. The Namib Desert, one of Earth's oldest arid regions, supports specialized wildlife and plant species that have adapted to extreme conditions over millions of years. Conservation areas like Okonjima protect cheetahs and leopards through research and rehabilitation programs, while coastal wetlands at Pelican Point and Sandwich Harbour provide feeding grounds for flamingos, pelicans, and thousands of Cape fur seals. The collection also includes Kolmanskop, a German colonial diamond mining settlement from 1908 that now stands abandoned as sand dunes gradually reclaim its buildings. These destinations demonstrate how human history, geological forces, and resilient ecosystems have shaped this southwestern African nation into a compelling destination for nature and culture enthusiasts.
Bird Island
9.1 km
Dorob National Park
95.5 km
Gobabeb
87.8 km
Woermann House
30.8 km
Hohenzollern Building
30.7 km
National Marine Aquarium of Namibia
30.2 km
Pelican Point Lighthouse
10.2 km
Museum Swakopmund
31.2 km
Marine-Denkmal
31.1 km
Leuchtturm Swakopmund
31.2 km
Vogelfederberg
50.3 km
Evangelical Lutheran Church
31.1 km
Robbenreservat Kreuzkap
144 km
Altes Gefängnis
31.8 km
St. Matthew's Anglican Church
1.4 km
The Dome
32.4 km
Swakopbrücke
29.9 km
Rhenish Mission Church
1.7 km
Parc national de Dorob
96.1 km
OMEG-Haus
31.4 km
Kramersdorf Building
30.8 km
State House (Swakopmund)
31.2 km
Jan-Wilken-Stadion
541 m
Rossmund Desert Golf Course
33 km
Sandwich Harbour
48.6 km
Railway Engine No. 652
499 m
Swakop Bridge
31.7 km
Old Barracks
30.6 kmReviews
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