Sandwich Harbour & Pelican Point tour: Seal colony and dune drive

Seal colony, lighthouse and dunes where the Namib meets the Atlantic

A full-day 4x4 tour from Walvis Bay to Pelican Point and Sandwich Harbour combines two of Namibia's most dramatic coastal landscapes in one trip. You travel by vehicle across salt pans and the Kuiseb River delta, stopping at the seal colony and historic lighthouse, then drive into towering dunes overlooking the Atlantic. The tour includes an expert guide, a dune picnic with drinks and snacks, and entry to Naukluft National Park. Small groups keep the pace manageable and the wildlife viewing intimate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour

• Stop at Walvis Bay Lagoon to spot flamingos
• Drive to Kuiseb River delta via salt flats
• Access Sandwich Harbour lagoon from beach or viewpoint
• Make stops for views and photography
• Enjoy picnic with drinks and snacks
• Observe wildlife: jackal, springbok, oryx, ostrich, seals

The experience

The tour starts at Walvis Bay Lagoon, where you stop to photograph flamingos and seabirds before heading south across salt flats toward Sandwich Harbour. The route follows the Kuiseb River delta, and your guide will attempt to reach the lagoon from the beach depending on tides and swell. If conditions don't allow, you'll find an elevated viewpoint overlooking the water instead. Either way, the stop gives you time to frame shots of the dunes meeting the ocean and watch for black-backed jackals, springbok, oryx and ostrich moving across the salt pans.

Pelican Point comes next: the seal colony holds thousands of Cape fur seals, and the historic lighthouse stands against sweeping coastal views. The 4x4 vehicle handles the terrain and gives you height for photography. Midway through the day, your guide finds a sheltered spot in the dunes for a picnic with snacks, soft drinks, beer and sparkling wine: a moment to sit with the desert's scale and quiet before moving on.

The full-day format means you see both landmarks without rushing, and the small-group structure keeps the vehicle intimate. Your guide is experienced in both wildlife spotting and the logistics of tide-dependent access, so the route adapts to conditions on the day. Entry to Naukluft National Park is included, as is hotel pickup from Walvis Bay.

What’s included

• Expert guide in English.
• hotel pickup from Walvis Bay.
• entry to Naukluft National Park.
• dune picnic with snacks, soft drinks, beer and sparkling wine.
• 4x4 transport across salt pans and dunes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Infant (2 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Pangaea Tours

Is this one for you?The full-day format and small-group structure suit travelers who want to photograph both the seal colony and the dune landscape without feeling rushed, and who are comfortable spending hours in a 4x4 vehicle crossing salt flats and desert terrain. The tour adapts its route to tides and conditions, so flexibility matters more than a fixed itinerary.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (2 to 5 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals will I see on the Sandwich Harbour and Pelican Point tour?

The seal colony at Pelican Point holds thousands of Cape fur seals. Across the salt pans and dunes you may spot black-backed jackals, springbok, oryx, ostrich, fog beetles and geckos. Seabirds including flamingos and pelicans are common at Walvis Bay Lagoon and throughout the route.

Can we actually reach Sandwich Harbour lagoon, or is it just a viewpoint?

Your guide will attempt to access Sandwich Harbour from the beach, but tides and swell determine whether that's possible on the day. If conditions don't allow beach access, you'll stop at an elevated viewpoint overlooking the lagoon instead, which still gives you the dune and ocean views the site is known for.

How long is the drive and how much time do we spend at each stop?

The tour runs six to seven hours total. You'll make several stops to photograph and observe wildlife on the way to Sandwich Harbour, spend time at the lagoon viewpoint or beach access, visit Pelican Point for the seal colony and lighthouse, and pause midway for the dune picnic.

What's included in the dune picnic?

The picnic includes a snacks platter, soft drinks, beer and sparkling wine. Your guide chooses a sheltered spot in the dunes where you can eat and rest before continuing the tour.

Do I need a 4x4 vehicle to reach these places, or could we go another way?

The salt pans, river delta and dunes require a 4x4 vehicle. The terrain is not accessible by standard car, and the specialized vehicle also gives you the height and stability needed for photography and wildlife viewing across the landscape.