Sandwich Harbour & Welwitschia Tour: Dune Drive & Wildlife

A dune drive through 400 million years of desert, ending where the ocean meets sand

A full-day tour from Swakopmund into the Namib Desert and along the Namibian coast, visiting the ancient Welwitschia plants, the stark Moonlandscape, Walvis Bay's flamingo lagoon, and the dunes of Sandwich Harbour. The route runs 7 to 8 hours with a live guide in English or German, pickup from the harbour included, and lunch with drinks provided. The guide decides the order of stops based on tide and weather, and entry to Sandwich Harbour depends on tidal conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Namib Desert and Sandwich Harbour

• Travel from Swakopmund to Namib Desert plains
• Visit water oasis important to Swakopmund
• View 500 million year old Moonlandscape
• See 1500 year old Welwitschia plants
• Drive past Dune 7 to Walvis Bay lagoon
• Observe flamingos and other waders at lagoon
• Pass pink salt lakes and beach dunes
• Experience dune drive at Sandwich Harbour
• Take short game drive searching desert life
• Return to starting point

The experience

How do plants and animals survive in one of Earth's harshest places? This tour answers that question by taking you deep into the Namib Desert gravel plains, where you'll see lichen fields and stand in the 400-million-year-old Moonlandscape: a terrain so barren it feels like another planet. The landscape has weathered two ice ages and volcanic eruptions, and it's here that the Welwitschia plants grow: ancient specimens up to 1,500 years old, each with only two leaves that tear and fray in the wind. You'll learn how these plants and the desert's wildlife have adapted to survive on moisture from fog alone.

From the desert, the tour heads south past Dune 7 toward Walvis Bay, where the Ramsar wetland lagoon hosts thousands of flamingos and other waders. You'll drive past the pink salt lakes along the shore and may spot seals and jackals among the dunes. Then comes Sandwich Harbour, where a narrow strip of beach sits between towering dunes and the ocean: a landscape so striking the operator calls it a roller-coaster dune ride. A short game drive follows, searching for desert wildlife adapted to these extreme conditions. The route and order of stops can shift based on tide and weather. Your guide will decide on the day which direction makes sense.

Pickup happens one hour after your ship docks if you're arriving by cruise liner, and the tour departs no later than an hour and a half after that. Lunch, beer, cider, bottled water, cool drinks and snacks are included. A minimum of two participants is required to run the tour. If that's not met, you'll be offered another date or a full refund. The experience is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health, and you'll need at least a moderate level of fitness for the dune driving and walking involved.

What’s included

• Pickup from Swakopmund harbour one hour after docking.
• lunch and light meal.
• beer, cider, bottled water, cool drinks and juices.
• park entry fees.
• live guide in English or German.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 85 years) · Child (1 to 12 years)

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 37 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Desert Dunes and Dust Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you speak English or are comfortable following a guide in that language. German guides are limited and assigned on a first-come basis. The full-day format and dune driving suit travelers with moderate fitness who can handle 7 to 8 hours of travel across rough terrain and sand.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 12 years).

How old are the Welwitschia plants I'll see on this tour?

The Welwitschia plants on the Welwitschia plains can be up to 1,500 years old. Each plant has only two leaves that grow from the stem and fray in the desert wind, making them truly unique to this harsh environment.

Will I see wildlife on the dune drive at Sandwich Harbour?

Yes, a short game drive at Sandwich Harbour searches for desert life adapted to these extreme conditions. You may also spot seals and jackals among the dunes as you travel through Walvis Bay and along the coast.

What happens if the tide makes Sandwich Harbour inaccessible?

Entry to Sandwich Harbour is tide-dependent, and your guide will decide on the day which direction to drive the tour: possibly visiting Sandwich Harbour first and then the Welwitschia plains, or vice versa, based on tidal conditions.

How long after my cruise ship docks will the tour pick me up?

Pickup from the harbour happens one hour after your ship docks. The tour will depart no later than an hour and a half after pickup, so latecomers are considered a no-show.

What's included in the tour price?

Lunch, beer, cider, bottled water, cool drinks, snacks, and all park fees are included. If you're a cruise liner passenger, free pickup from the harbour is also included.