Walvis Bay Waterfront
Walvis Bay Waterfront
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4.0
403 reviews
Excellent
150
Very good
182
Average
62
Poor
7
Terrible
2
Barrie P
Guernsey, UK1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Couples
Some reviewers must have left Walvis Bay too soon to discover all it has to offer. There is a selection of excellent restaurants of different types & the waterfront always has something of interest going on. It is also the best place to get things sorted whether repairs, parts or even (as in our case) health issues. Beware though it may rain on one day a year ———- sometimes.
Written 19 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrejaKo
Maribor, Slovenia1,042 contributions
Nov 2021
Walvis Bay Waterfront shows you the different part of Namibia. This more of high end touristy way of living. As far as waterfront goes, it's nothing special. It's much better toward the pink lake or up to the Langstrand.
Written 9 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DaliMiso
Harare, Zimbabwe36 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
Refreshing view by the sea, whilst you gaze at the beautiful flamingo. Runner’s paradise with an incredible backdrop. This is a place to wind down and collect your thoughts. I loved every moment of it and felt totally at peace.
Written 11 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anthony
Scotland, UK1,555 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
On arrival, not sure we would like it. But when we wondered around we found a long sweeping bay with good tarmac footway and great views of the flying flamingos. Around the other side, you find the marina where boats leave for trips to see the dolphins etc. The catamarans were modern and very safe. There is a very small traditional outdoor market. There are a small number of cafes/restaurants and a few shops selling local souvenirs. Prices very low. Credit cards accepted. The local beer was superb and very cheap. Plate of chips was nice and huge portion and cost ÂŁ1.50!!!!
Written 1 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon S
Johannesburg, South Africa2 contributions
Jan 2016 • Family
We traveled to Walvis Bay by the MSC Sinfonia Cruise ship. A very relaxing way to get to Walvis. We chose not to go on the excursions on offer, but to rather walk the streets at our own leisure. The Waterfront had a few interesting places to eat at and interesting art and photography galleries. It is a beautiful spot to photograph and one could also take a trip out into the bay to admire the vast birdlife on offer. We enjoyed the Pelicans and Flamingos while walking around the bay, both in the water and flying in v- formation overhead. Truely spectacular.
Written 4 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mceschholz
Grafenhausen, Germany41 contributions
July 2015 • Couples
Walvis Bay Waterfront certainly has quite a few interesting things to offer: the atmosphere of an international port, some lovely shops near the boat trip departure point, including a lovely art gallery - and the chance to get a lovely seal and pelican boat trip. Mola Mola was a real treat. But the best of all for nature lovers is the lagoon: big flocks of flamingos performing their dance rather near the shore - and if you are lucky, you can even spot dolphins. - Unfortunately, a word of warning is inevitable: NEVER EVER leave ANYTHING visibly behind in your car ! Not even for a few minutes, not even if you stay right in front of your car ! During the last two years several bad experiences showed that the area suffers from organized car burglary ! DO NOT BECOME A VICTIM !
Written 19 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paula
Greater Perth, Australia26 contributions
Apr 2015 • Couples
Walvis Bay is a busy port. We were told much of South Africa's imports makes landfall at Walvis Bay and is trucked from there. We went into the Namib desert and saw some amazing plant life. The Walvis Bay foreshore is attractive but to be frank to enjoy the rest of the country it helps if you love sand dunes and rock formations. There was barely a blade of green grass. The guides were very helpful but our tour buses were only just up to the task. If you plan on walking around beware of the port area where friends of ours had their credit card skimmed and they were out of pocket to the amount of $4000.
Written 10 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob S
Maryland Heights, MO114 contributions
Nov 2014 • Solo
I really can't recommend the town of Walvis Bay, but the waterfront is nice. A 2-3 mile/4,000 meter promenade has been constructed along the bay, allowing for a scenic stroll. I saw flocks of pink flamingos, pelicans, some nice scenery, beautiful homes, and a tourist information stand. Restrooms are available along the walk, and there are plenty of hotels and restaurants. Pleasant, but not eye-popping.
Written 31 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Master Echo
London, UK543 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA SUNDAY 2 MARCH 2014
Being of course of a Germanic background, this place's name is pronounced "Valvish By" (the Afrikaans spelling being Baai).
The port authorities were being particularly awkward concerning tour bus and coach access into the dock area, and it appeared they were only allowing so many vehicles in at a time, the upshot being that we were all congregated on the quayside, with no one knowing which vehicle they were supposed to get into. We were doing a 4 x 4 trip and some of the vehicles appeared to be based on a Land Rover, but one of the first produced in the 30's! Luckily the one we had was at least a fairly modern and comfortable, long wheel base 4 wheel drive vehicle. There were five of us, David being the only man, apart from Lawrence, the guide. He was an ex South African from Pretoria, who had been a clinical psychologist who had come to Namibia for a better life and to escape the rat race. Leaving in a convoy of three, there were only about 14 passengers doing this trip, which was called the Treasures of Namibia.
We left the container port finally and made our way through the streets of the town, deserted, being a Sunday. First impressions were of low rise houses, in neat rows, with clean un-littered streets; the population is about 60,000. We left Walvis Bay and drove along the coast to Swakopmund, about 170 miles from the capital, Windhoek. Smaller in population by about 10,000, to Walvis Bay, there appeared to be one long Main Street lined with shops. Swakopmund is a beach town, but maybe because it was a Sunday, it seemed like a ghost town, with few people in the main street and little activity in the surrounding ones. We then turned inland, roughly following the course of the Swakop River, before turning off and heading into the gravel desert. We then drove along the dried up river bed for some few kilometres. The landscape changed from lunar, to flat, to valley as we progressed through the desert. We stopped in various places along the way where the guides showed us various plants, one of which resembled a succulent from which he obtained a great deal of water, proving that you wouldn’t die of thirst in this desert! We also saw a springbok in the distance and the famous Welwitschia plant, endemic to this area, and truly unique. Really weird looking, it consists of two leaves, a stem base and roots and that’s it! The two initial leaves are never shed and continue to grow and become tatty, torn and bedraggled with age and can grow to about 20 inches. It is said by some that it resembles a collapsed octopus which in fact is quite apt! Many of these plants are hundreds of years old, and are both male and female.
We stopped in the middle of the bush at the Goanikontes Oasis which is residential and offers both camping, with bungalows and chalets, where we were offered a drink of champagne - actually a cheap moussec which was quite sweet but nicely chilled. Leaving here we drove back onto the road and went to Dune 7 so named as it is one of seven. It is the nearest to the airport and is therefore the one that everyone visits, although it is certainly not the tallest. It was very windy when we reached here and one guy from our party actually ventured to the top and came down sliding on his bottom. On route back to the ship, we stopped briefly at Walvis Bay’s lagoon area, where the flamingos come to nest, but unfortunately it was too late in the day, and there were only a few in the distance. Back on board, we were subjected to a final face to face exit interview with immigration, so that the ship could leave the country in the sure knowledge no one was trying to remain in the country!
Being of course of a Germanic background, this place's name is pronounced "Valvish By" (the Afrikaans spelling being Baai).
The port authorities were being particularly awkward concerning tour bus and coach access into the dock area, and it appeared they were only allowing so many vehicles in at a time, the upshot being that we were all congregated on the quayside, with no one knowing which vehicle they were supposed to get into. We were doing a 4 x 4 trip and some of the vehicles appeared to be based on a Land Rover, but one of the first produced in the 30's! Luckily the one we had was at least a fairly modern and comfortable, long wheel base 4 wheel drive vehicle. There were five of us, David being the only man, apart from Lawrence, the guide. He was an ex South African from Pretoria, who had been a clinical psychologist who had come to Namibia for a better life and to escape the rat race. Leaving in a convoy of three, there were only about 14 passengers doing this trip, which was called the Treasures of Namibia.
We left the container port finally and made our way through the streets of the town, deserted, being a Sunday. First impressions were of low rise houses, in neat rows, with clean un-littered streets; the population is about 60,000. We left Walvis Bay and drove along the coast to Swakopmund, about 170 miles from the capital, Windhoek. Smaller in population by about 10,000, to Walvis Bay, there appeared to be one long Main Street lined with shops. Swakopmund is a beach town, but maybe because it was a Sunday, it seemed like a ghost town, with few people in the main street and little activity in the surrounding ones. We then turned inland, roughly following the course of the Swakop River, before turning off and heading into the gravel desert. We then drove along the dried up river bed for some few kilometres. The landscape changed from lunar, to flat, to valley as we progressed through the desert. We stopped in various places along the way where the guides showed us various plants, one of which resembled a succulent from which he obtained a great deal of water, proving that you wouldn’t die of thirst in this desert! We also saw a springbok in the distance and the famous Welwitschia plant, endemic to this area, and truly unique. Really weird looking, it consists of two leaves, a stem base and roots and that’s it! The two initial leaves are never shed and continue to grow and become tatty, torn and bedraggled with age and can grow to about 20 inches. It is said by some that it resembles a collapsed octopus which in fact is quite apt! Many of these plants are hundreds of years old, and are both male and female.
We stopped in the middle of the bush at the Goanikontes Oasis which is residential and offers both camping, with bungalows and chalets, where we were offered a drink of champagne - actually a cheap moussec which was quite sweet but nicely chilled. Leaving here we drove back onto the road and went to Dune 7 so named as it is one of seven. It is the nearest to the airport and is therefore the one that everyone visits, although it is certainly not the tallest. It was very windy when we reached here and one guy from our party actually ventured to the top and came down sliding on his bottom. On route back to the ship, we stopped briefly at Walvis Bay’s lagoon area, where the flamingos come to nest, but unfortunately it was too late in the day, and there were only a few in the distance. Back on board, we were subjected to a final face to face exit interview with immigration, so that the ship could leave the country in the sure knowledge no one was trying to remain in the country!
Written 7 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mistycresswell
Cape Town22 contributions
June 2013 • Friends
One of the side excursions included in the program of the 7 day train trip from Windhoek to Swakopmund on the Desert express, was a coach trip to Walvis Harbour. Here the train passengers were divided into groups, and were treated to a Ski Boat tour of the harbour, to see whales, seals and Pelicans for Africa !! On board we were treated to Champagne and freshly shucked oysters, and a lovely picnic spread, complete with checked table cloth !!
It was amazing to admire the pelicans, in fact a tame one decided to hitch a ride on the forepeak of the boat, peering through the window, waiting for a fish !!(Which he was duely rewarded, what fun !)
Another highlight to the ski boat trip was when one of the "regular"seals climbed up the transom, and much to the mirth and delight of all on board, went up to the Skipper, Pieter to demand his fish treat !! He was huge, and took up most of the seating, very casually ! What a delightful intrusion !
The Ski boat company has it's offices right on the slipway. Elderly passengers were assisted on board by the skipper and his competant land crew.
A lovely time was had by all.
It was amazing to admire the pelicans, in fact a tame one decided to hitch a ride on the forepeak of the boat, peering through the window, waiting for a fish !!(Which he was duely rewarded, what fun !)
Another highlight to the ski boat trip was when one of the "regular"seals climbed up the transom, and much to the mirth and delight of all on board, went up to the Skipper, Pieter to demand his fish treat !! He was huge, and took up most of the seating, very casually ! What a delightful intrusion !
The Ski boat company has it's offices right on the slipway. Elderly passengers were assisted on board by the skipper and his competant land crew.
A lovely time was had by all.
Written 15 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any difficulties to reach the Walvis Bay e.g. 4x4 required, entry tickets?
Written 4 March 2018
hello
the best is To book Ă 4*4 tour.
regards Stéphanie
Written 4 March 2018
eloise613
Johannesburg, South Africa
Good Day
How much is this Doplhin tour please anyone ansear me
Written 23 March 2015
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