Skeleton Coast Cape Cross Seal Colony Tour from Swakopmund

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

A half-day tour from Swakopmund drives the Skeleton Coast to Cape Cross, 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 the Gallows monument. Light lunch and drinks are included, and a live guide in English or German leads the group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Cape Cross1h
2. Democratic Resettlement Communitypassing by

Skeleton Coast and Cape Cross Seal Colony

• Pass Orania Desalinization Plant
• Pass Wlotska's Backen resort
• Walk through Lichen Field
• Stop at Zeila Shipwreck
• Pass vacation houses along shore
• Visit Gallows monument
• Stop at Cape Cross seal colony
• Photograph thousands of seals
• Refuel car for return trip
• Return to accommodation

The experience

The tour leaves Swakopmund and heads north along the Skeleton Coast, a stretch of desert where the Atlantic fog sustains tiny lichens and sparse plant life. You stop to walk through a lichen field and learn how these plants survive in arid conditions, then pass the Zeila shipwreck visible from the shore. The route also takes in the Gallows monument, erected in 1978 as a beach-conservation appeal, and vacation houses along the shoreline between Swakopmund and Henties Bay.

At Henties Bay you collect a light lunch platter, then continue to Cape Cross. The seal colony is the main event: you walk a boardwalk that gets you close to thousands of Cape Fur Seals gathered at the site where Diego erected a marble cross during his voyage in 1493 in search of a route around Africa. Time to photograph and watch the animals is built into the stop before the group heads back to Swakopmund. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and bottled water and soft drinks are provided throughout.

If you want to see more shipwrecks along the Skeleton Coast, the operator also runs a full-day Shipwreck Tour that travels another 200 kilometers further north. A minimum of two participants is required to start. If that is not met, you can choose another date, a different experience, or a full refund. German-language guides are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so booking early helps if you need one.

What’s included

• Light lunch platter collected at Henties Bay.
• bottled water and soft drinks throughout the tour.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• parking fees.
• live guide in English or German.
• hotel or accommodation pickup.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 45 years) · Senior (55 to 85 years) · Youth (under 13)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

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

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Is this one for you?This is a shared tour with a live guide, so you travel with other visitors and follow a set route and schedule. It suits travelers with a free afternoon who want to see the seal colony and the Skeleton Coast without arranging their own transport, and who are comfortable with four hours in a vehicle and on foot in desert conditions.

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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 (under 13).

How long does the Cape Cross seal colony tour take?

The tour runs for four hours total, including the drive from Swakopmund, stops along the coast, and time at the seal colony.

What is the Zeila shipwreck, and do you get close to it?

The Zeila is a wreck visible from the shore between Swakopmund and Henties Bay. You see it from the vehicle during the drive to Cape Cross. The full-day Shipwreck Tour visits more wrecks further north if you want a closer look at multiple sites.

What happens at Cape Cross, and how close do you get to the seals?

At Cape Cross you walk a boardwalk that takes you close to thousands of Cape Fur Seals gathered at the site. The marble cross Diego erected in 1493 stands there, and you have time to photograph and watch the animals before heading back.

Is lunch included, and what if I have dietary restrictions?

A light lunch platter is collected at Henties Bay and included in the tour price, along with bottled water and soft drinks. Tell the operator about any dietary requirements or allergies when you book.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the tour, or is pickup included?

Pickup is included in the tour price. If you are arriving by cruise ship, your pickup time starts one hour after you dock, and the tour departs no later than an hour and a half after pickup.

What should I bring or wear for the Skeleton Coast?

The desert is harsh and exposed. Bring sun protection cream and a windbreaker jacket. The vehicle is air-conditioned but you will be walking outdoors at the lichen field and the seal colony boardwalk.