Sandwich Harbour Tour from Walvis Bay: Desert Meets Ocean

Where the Namib's dunes slip into the Atlantic, and thousands of seals own the shore

A full-day tour from Walvis Bay to Sandwich Harbour combines a scenic drive past flamingos and the Walvis Bay Lagoon, a stop at the Pelican Point Seal Colony to watch Cape fur seals, and off-road dune driving to reach the coastline where desert meets ocean. The tour includes an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle, an English-speaking guide, a picnic lunch with champagne and snacks in the dunes, and returns to Walvis Bay in the late afternoon. Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular concerns.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour

• View flamingos and other birds
• Visit Walvis Bay Pink Lake and salt factory
• Observe seals at Pelican Point
• Drive along coastline to Sandwich Harbour
• Stop at panoramic viewpoints and climb dunes
• Enjoy picnic lunch in dunes
• Off-road journey back to Walvis Bay

The experience

You start in Walvis Bay and spend the morning driving along the lagoon, where greater and lesser flamingos wade in shallow water alongside pelicans, cormorants and sandpipers. The route passes the Walvis Bay Salt Factory and its famous pink lake: a stop where salt harvesting and the water's vivid color make the landscape feel otherworldly. From there, the tour heads to Pelican Point, a sandspit crowded with thousands of Cape fur seals basking in the sun and pups playing in the shallows, with the historic Pelican Point Lighthouse standing nearby.

After Pelican Point, the real driving begins. The 4x4 heads toward Sandwich Harbour along the coastline, and depending on the tide, you either drive the beach itself or take an inland route through massive sand dunes. The tour stops at panoramic viewpoints for photos, includes dune climbing if you want it, and pauses for wildlife spotting. A picnic-style lunch (finger snacks, champagne, beer, cider, juice and water) is served in the dunes before an off-road run back to Walvis Bay, arriving in the late afternoon.

Your guide speaks English and shares details about the region's flora and fauna as you move through the day. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters when you're crossing open desert and spending hours in the sun. The tour is built around the tides and the landscape itself: depending on conditions, the route adapts, so no two days follow exactly the same path.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle.
• English-speaking guide.
• finger snacks, champagne, beer, cider, juice and water throughout the day.
• picnic-style lunch served in the dunes.
• all stops at the Walvis Bay Lagoon, Walvis Bay Salt Factory and pink lake, Pelican Point Seal Colony, and Sandwich Harbour.

Options for this experience

2 options

Full Day Sandwich Harbour 4x4 TourGuide in English · 10:00Pickup is included

Tour languageGuide in English · 08:00Lasts 6 hours; includes a light lunch and drinks, plus a 4x4 vehicle and pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 10:00

AgesAdult (20 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (13 to 19 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 20

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 36 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Chena Tours & Safaris Namibia

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to reach Sandwich Harbour itself by 4x4 through the dunes rather than view it from a distance: the route shifts daily with tides and terrain, so no two trips are identical.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 19 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What wildlife will I actually see on the Walvis Bay Lagoon?

The lagoon is home to large flocks of greater and lesser flamingos wading in the shallow water, plus pelicans, cormorants, sandpipers and other migratory birds. The Walvis Bay Salt Factory and pink lake are also part of this leg of the tour.

How close do you get to the seals at Pelican Point?

Pelican Point is a sandspit where thousands of Cape fur seals bask and play in the water. You observe them from viewpoints on the spit itself, with the historic Pelican Point Lighthouse nearby, and can watch pups in the shallows while taking in ocean views.

What does the dune driving involve?

From Pelican Point toward Sandwich Harbour, the 4x4 navigates massive sand dunes. Depending on the tide, you may drive along the beach or take an inland dune route. The tour includes stops at panoramic viewpoints, optional dune climbing, and wildlife spotting before a picnic lunch in the dunes and an exhilarating off-road return journey.

What's included in the picnic lunch?

Lunch in the dunes includes finger snacks, champagne, beer, cider, juice and water. It's served before the final stretch of driving back to Walvis Bay.

How long is the full tour?

The tour runs a full day, departing Walvis Bay in the morning and returning in the late afternoon. You spend roughly six hours on the road and at stops combined.

Is the vehicle air-conditioned?

Yes, the 4x4 is air-conditioned, which is important given the open desert environment and the length of the day in the sun.