Skeleton Coast Cape Cross Seal Colony Tour from Swakopmund

Walk among thousands of Cape Fur Seals at the cross Diego erected in 1493.

A half-day tour from Swakopmund to Cape Cross on the Skeleton Coast, where you walk a boardwalk among thousands of seals at the site of Diego's marble cross. The route passes the Zeila shipwreck, a lichen field where plants survive on fog alone, and Henties Bay, where a light lunch is served. A live guide in English or German leads the tour. Pickup from your accommodation is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour from Swakopmund to Cape Cross

• Pass vacation houses along shore
• Stop at Zeila Shipwreck
• Visit Gallows monument
• Learn about Orania Desalinization Plant
• Walk through Lichen Field
• Collect light lunch platter at Henties Bay
• Visit Cape Cross seal colony
• Photograph seals at walkway
• Refuel car for return trip
• Return to accommodation

The experience

The drive north from Swakopmund crosses the Skeleton Coast's harsh desert, passing vacation houses along the shore and the Zeila shipwreck visible in the sea. You'll stop to walk through a lichen field and learn how these tiny plants sustain themselves in arid conditions on fog alone. The route also passes the Orania Desalinization Plant and a gallows monument erected in 1978, each with its own story. Light lunch is collected at Henties Bay before the final push to Cape Cross.

At Cape Cross, a marble cross marks where Diego began his voyage around Africa in 1493. A boardwalk lets you get close to thousands of Cape Fur Seals without disturbing them. Most of the time at the site goes to photographing and watching the colony. After an hour, the tour heads back, refueling on the way so the return drive to Swakopmund is smooth and safe.

The tour runs about four hours total. A live guide in English or German travels with the group. German guides are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed on every departure. Minimum two participants are required to start. If that threshold is not met, the operator offers another date, a different experience, or a full refund. The tour is not recommended for cruise passengers due to the distance involved, though cruise arrivals can book if they contact the operator first: pickup begins an hour after docking, and the tour departs no later than an hour and a half after that.

What’s included

• Light lunch at Henties Bay.
• pickup from your Swakopmund accommodation.
• a live guide in English or German.
• access to the Cape Cross boardwalk and seal colony.

Options for this experience

2 options

Cape Cross Seal Colony Tour on the Skeleton CoastGuide in English or German · 07:30Includes pickup

Shipwreck tour along the Skeleton CoastGuide in English or German · 08:00Shipwreck tour: we search for two more shipwrecks in Skeleton Coast Park, plus an old diamond mine and an inland oil rig. Duration: 8 hours. This full-day tour travels about 310 km up the Skeleton Coast and back. A light lunch and beverages are included: we serve light finger food and drinks. Please state any dietary requirements when booking. Heading north along the Skeleton Coast, we pass the Lichen Plains, the Zeila Shipwreck and a seal colony, then enter Skeleton Coast Park in search of the shipwrecks and mines. Vehicles: Land Rover 8-seater or similar; we also use minivans and Land Cruisers. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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 07:30 and 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 85 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 25 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Desert Dunes and Dust Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the seal colony and the historic cross in a half-day itinerary. The four-hour timeframe fits a morning or afternoon slot without consuming a full day. If shipwrecks are your main interest and you have a full day available, the Skeleton Coast Shipwreck Tour covers more ground and explores additional wreck sites further north.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 4 years).

What are the Cape Cross seals actually like when you get there?

Cape Cross is home to thousands of Cape Fur Seals. A boardwalk brings you close enough to photograph and watch them without disturbing the colony, and most visitors spend their time at the site doing exactly that.

Does this tour show shipwrecks?

The Zeila shipwreck is visible in the sea during the drive, and you stop to see it. If you want to explore more shipwrecks further north along the Skeleton Coast, the full-day Skeleton Coast Shipwreck Tour goes another 200 kilometers further and includes additional sites.

What's included in the tour price?

Light lunch is served at Henties Bay. Pickup from your accommodation in Swakopmund is included. A live guide in English or German leads the tour throughout.

Can I book this if I'm arriving on a cruise ship?

The tour is not recommended for cruise passengers because of the distance traveled. If you still want to book, contact the operator first. Pickup begins an hour after you dock, and the tour departs no later than an hour and a half after pickup. Late arrivals are treated as no-shows.

What should I know about the lichen field stop?

You'll walk through a lichen field and learn how these tiny plants survive in the desert's arid conditions by drawing moisture from fog alone. It's one of the unique ecosystems the Skeleton Coast is known for.