Things to do and see at the central coast

Comprising Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and vicinity

We offer no-obligation travel advice for Namibia and arrange personalised self-drive tours, select safaris, and vehicle hires, as well as fine lodges and other accommodation.

NOTE: Many of these descriptions are generic samples of what is available. Tours can be taken from either Swakopmund or Walvis Bay.

Karakulia

You can tour through Karakulia’s creative workshop, where you can enjoy watching the carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving of pure karakul wool into rugs and wall hangings.

Many of the weavers have been blessed with a natural artistic flair while others have developed their skill through sheer hard work to produce wonderful pieces of hand-woven art. They are all proud of their work and it will be a pleasure to show you the beautiful colours of the dyed skeins of wool and the finished hand-woven carpets, rugs, and wall hangings.

Karakulia was established in 1979 with the idea of being creative, giving employment, and producing a commercially viable product. As the demand for their hand-woven articles increased, they were able to purchase more looms as well as train and employ more weavers (including some disabled persons). Today they are a closely woven family of some fifty members. They not only continue training in the craft itself, but also in office and computer work, management skills, and design. A housing project has been started and sixteen members are now in the process of becoming proud home owners.

Over the years Karakulia has built up an international reputation due to the many overseas visitors who call at their workshops and their participation in exhibitions through the world. Their forwarding department also prides itself in efficiently despatching parcels to customers worldwide.

Township tour (Walvis Bay)

This tour is taken with a local guide who has started his own business

Township Tours offers a unique tour of Walvis Bay and the township Kuisebmond, while illustrating the complex and interesting history of the various stops. Starting with a drive though Walvis Bay’s bustling streets, your first stop is the colourful Kuisebmond Market Mall where small traders offer a variety of traditional crafts, clothing and typical Namibian dishes. Down Nathaniel Maxuilili Avenue, the next stop is at a kindergarten, where the children present a special show. You then visit the Multi-purpose Community Centre where various active community health and development projects are showcased. The next stop is the Tutaleni Village. See how the problem of overcrowding in Kuisebmond was solved by an innovative housing concept. At the Mola-Mola shebeen (a typical get-together pub) the vibrant atmosphere of the township comes to life. Savour traditional dishes such as mopani worms, makaka, oshifima porridge and beans, all spread out in a delicious buffet. From Kuisebmond, you go on to visit the diamond cutting and polishing plant in the Export Processing Zone.

All of these exciting glimpses into the lives of Namibians are accompanied by detailed explanations and historical information. The tour lasts between 1-2 hours and is flexible to suit your needs and interests.

Township Tour (Swakopmund)

Discover the rich multicultural side of Swakopmund. Take the opportunity to chat with the local people and get a fascinating glimpse into a typical Namibian township. Walk through the streets of Mondesa the township on the outskirts of Swakopmund and learn about its history. See a government-based housing project and, on the morning tour only, see a local kindergarten. On the evening tour, visit a local artist. Also enjoy township culinary specialities and traditional dances

Namib Desert Excursion

Travel through the spectacular Namib Desert via the fascinating Moon landscape and the fantastic Welwitschia plants. After a picnic lunch visit the beautiful Walvis Bay dunes and lagoon. The highlights of this trip are the Moon landscape, Goanikontes Oasis, Swakopmund River bed, the Welwitschia Plains, the majestic Dune 7 (which you can climb), Walvis Bay lagoon with its bird life, the Salt Pans, and the meeting place of the dunes and ocean.

On some tours, on the way back to Swakopmund, the tour passes the Swakop River smallholdings. These include experimental asparagus farms, date plantations, olive groves, organic vegetable patches and small stock husbandry.

Ameib Ranch and Spitzkoppe

Combine the beautiful open spaces and landscapes Namibia has to offer with a cultural journey through fine rock art. Visit one of Namibia’s most recognizable landmarks, the 1728m Spitzkoppe which rises sheer above the Namib Desert. In addition, there is always a chance of spotting game.

The highlights of this tour include the Namib Desert, the Spitzkoppe Busman Paradise, the Skeleton Coast, Ameib Ranch, hopefully game viewing, viewing the strange rock formations at Bull’s Party, also Phillip’s Cave and the White Elephant, and then on to the quaint little town of Usakos.

Messum Crater

Visit one of the most remote and difficult places to access in Damaraland and view the extraordinary beauty of the desert’s great open spaces. Travel through the gigantic Messum Crater, home of beautiful specimens of Welwitschia Mirabilis.

The highlights of this tour are travelling along the Skeleton Coast road, and visiting Wlotzkasbaken, a quant little fishing village, and Henties Bay. You also see the lichen fields which flank the road, as well as natural salt pans. These are followed by the Welwitschia plants, the Messum Crater with a diameter of 20km, and the terraced Messum River bed terraces.

Dolphin cruise and Sandwich Harbour

Enjoy a cruise in the Walvis Bay Lagoon and experience the majestic beauty of seals and dolphins swimming alongside the boat. The enjoy a scenic 4X4 coastal drive to Sandwich Harbour, the natural freshwater lagoon that is abundant with birdlife and surrounded by sky-high sand dunes. The highlights of this tour is visiting the Walvis Bay lagoon and harbour with its many flamingos, pelicans etc. Bird Island which is a man made raft. Moored Russian Trawlers parked in the bay. Pelican Point, seal colonies, the seals at times will come aboard the boat. The dolphins as the dive and play alongside the boat. Then take a break and have lunch on the beach. Then enjoy the 4X4 drive to Sandwich Harbour lagoon for more bird watching.

Cape Cross

Experience the desolate coastline and unspoilt beauty as you drive to Cape Cross the largest breeding colony of Cape Fur seals in Southern Africa. Apart from being a seal colony, the reserve has an interesting history as it was here that the first European set foot on Namibian soil and erected a stone cross to mark the event. The highlights of the trip are travelling up the Skeleton Coast as far as Cape Cross where the Fur Seals breed and where a replica of Diego’s cross stands. You drive through Wlotzkasbaken which is a holiday resort for fishermen, as well as Henties Bay, passing the lichen fields and a landscape that is both bleak and colourful.

Shark Fishing from the Beach

This can either be a full-day or a half-day tour. Have you always dreamed of catching a shark? Well join this half day excursion conducted by a professional fishing guide and go fishing along the Skeleton Coast where, unlike most places in the world, you can catch a shark from the beach.

Ballooning

Drifting above dunes, plains and mountains in a basket suspended from a hot-air balloon is the most graceful way of viewing the desert landscape. Unfortunately this tour has to be cancelled at short notice if the wind is too strong.

Tandem Skydiving

Experience the sensation of being as free as a bird, as you dive over the Namib Desert with your tandem instructor. An adrenalin rush guaranteed.

Quad-Biking

Guided quad bike trips are both fun and educational. The excursion takes place in the beautiful dune landscape with a superb view of the Atlantic Ocean. Click here for information about quad-biking.

Sand boarding

With dunes as tall as 120 metres, sand boarders can accelerate up to 80km/h. Depending on individual skills, sand boarding can be done either lying down or standing.

Land yachting

Land yachting is an unusual and diverting way of enjoying the oldest desert in the world. It is both an unforgettable and eco-fun experience.

Sea Kayaking

There is no better way to explore the lagoon at Walvis Bay than by taking a sea kayak trip. Get close to the rich birdlife and the occasional seal. Those new to kayaking will be amazed by the ease of the gentler trips. Tours are led by an experienced guide and use licensed, seaworthy kayaks. Safety features include VHF radio, GPS satellite links, compasses, flares, and lifejackets.

Klipsringer Canyon Tour

Go out into the quietest of places, stand back, look at the desert as a whole, then lean closer and focus on its smallest parts… This drive of about 5 hours takes you to an area of sunshine, eternal blue skies, and surprisingly varied landscapes in the outback of Swakopmund. There are primordial plains, rugged gorges, and craggy, well-vegetated canyons. In the afternoons, the desert glows in a subtle bronze light, while the sea breeze provides pleasantly cool temperatures.

En route, you take short walks to look into the multitude of miracles, small and large, that nature presents, such as peculiar adaptations of fauna and flora and ancient geology. Of course, you also take an in-depth look at that most grotesque of plants, the Welwitschia.

You return to town around sunset, in time to experience the twilight mood of the moon landscape.

Dunes of the Namib

This is an exhilarating drive through the spectacular play of light, shadow and swirling sands amongst the dunes of the Namib Desert, which provides a peaceful and powerful landscape as well as a fascinating biosphere. Observe how the silken and voluptuous shapes of the dunes are caressed by the ever attentive winds. This tour is usually done in the late afternoon, ending just after sunset and takes about 2and a half hours.

Desert Walkabout

This tour comprises between 2 and 3 hours of nature walk in an out-of-the-way wilderness area. At mid-day you leave Swakopmund and drive towards the Khan River, into picturesque countryside. This is where you begin your walk, heading across open plains, roving through untouched valleys and rambling over smaller hills, taking time to appreciate shapes, colours, and impressive life forms. You will have time to wonder at the resilient plants and animals that have made this desert their home. This is not only a fine way of experiencing scenic splendour but you can also, for once, stretch those legs. This tour is only on offer during the months of April-August

Bloedkoppies (Blutkuppe) and Tinkas

This full-day tour provides ample opportunity to photograph scenery and natural objects while you take short nature walks in this arid Nama Karoo landscape. Game is usually fairly abundant and, depending on the season, you could also see a diverse variety of smaller mammals and bird species. You will also see handsome quiver trees and spectacular rock formations. and runs from 07h00 until sunset.

Spitzkoppe

The tour leaves early to reach these imposing granite peaks where the original nomads of Namibia once lived. The area hosts richly diverse flora and some endemic birds, while geologically it offers striking sights and insights. The contrasting landscape and captivating shapes of huge granite boulders are a breathtaking inspiration, especially to the photographer. You visit well preserved prehistoric rock art in some of the lesser known sites. The tour only operates from April to August.

Sandwich Harbour

This is a full day tour from Swakopmund to Sandwich Bay, comprising an eight-hour drive in a 4X4 vehicle with accomplished guides. You visit one of the country’s most spectacular and inaccessible destinations. For desert explorers, photographers, birders and nature lovers, this is a memorable off-road adventure. From Swakopmund, you are taken through the Swakop River wetland and the Atlantic dune chain to Bird Island at Dolphin Beach and then on to the flamingos at Walvis Bay Lagoon. You then cross into the Lower Kuiseb Delta past glimmering saltpans, quick sands, and hummock dunes, before reaching the towering dunes of Sandwich Bay.

Here, the northern end of the massive Sossusvlei dune chain plunges into the ocean, and a freshwater lagoon conjures up a wildlife paradise in the desert. Pastoral nomads used to trade glass beads for livestock here and European settlers built a long-vanished whaling village. Today, the lagoon sustains a vast diversity of protected birds, while dolphins, seals, and whales take sanctuary in the bay. Herds of springbok, jackal, and Brown Hyena live in this area. Determined beachcombers can find shipwrecks, skeletons, shell middens, old coins and semi-precious stones.

Lagoon Bird Watching

Enjoy a leisurely trip to witness splendid scenery filled with flamingos, pelicans, terns, plovers, cormorants and sandpipers. Due to wind and weather conditions, this tour is only taken in the morning.

Pelican Point and Dolphin Experience

Travel in a 4X4 vehicle to Pelican Point, past the lighthouse and around the point to the seal colonies. You will enjoy excellent bird viewing and delightful seals, as well as occasionally dolphins. Due to wind and weather conditions, this tour is only taken in the morning.