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African Safaris and Tours
Swakopmund Day Tours
Morning And Afternoon Tours In Swakopmund And Walvis Bay
Swakopmund is a natural two- to three-night stop on a Namibia safari. Founded in 1892 as the main harbour of German South West Africa, it retains much of its German colonial architecture. The town lies within the Dorob National Park, and the park's dune belt begins just outside the built-up area.
Most of our tours run for a morning or an afternoon, and they cover both Swakopmund and Walvis Bay:
- A Walvis Bay dolphin and seal cruise out to the Cape fur seal colony at Pelican Point
- Living Dunes, a morning with the small desert-adapted creatures of the dune belt
- Sandwich Harbour, an afternoon by 4x4 to a Ramsar-listed lagoon inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park
- The welwitschia tour through the Moon Landscape to the Welwitschia Plains
- Scenic flights, quad biking, a town tour and an afternoon of local food, coffee, craft beer and gin
If you only do one, make it a scenic flight. From the air you see the Namib's dunes run straight into the Atlantic, and longer flights reach the Skeleton Coast or Sossusvlei.
For somewhere to stay, see our Swakopmund lodges and hotels, and for the town itself, our Swakopmund guide. Tell us which tours appeal and we'll build them into your Namibia itinerary.
Our Swakopmund Day Tours
Dolphin & Seal Cruise
Rates On Request
Duration:
08h45 - 12h30
A morning boat cruise from Walvis Bay, past the oyster farms and fishing trawlers to the Cape fur seal colony at Pelican Point, returning via Bird Island. Watch for Heaviside's and bottlenose dolphins along the way. Fresh oysters, sparkling wine and snacks are served on board.
Living Dunes
Rates On Request
Duration:
08h30 - 12h00
A morning in the dune belt of the Dorob National Park, just outside Swakopmund. Guides follow tracks in the sand to find the Namaqua chameleon, sidewinding adder, lizards, geckos, beetles and spiders, and explain how each survives in the Namib.
Living Dunes And Lobster Lunch
Rates On Request
Duration:
08h30 - 13h30
The Living Dunes tour followed by lunch on a deserted stretch of beach: West Coast rock lobster and a glass of sparkling wine, served in a Bedouin-style tent within sight of the Atlantic.
Sandwich Harbour Tour
Rates On Request
Duration:
11h30 - 17h00
An afternoon 4x4 trip from Swakopmund through the Namib dunes and along the Atlantic shoreline to Sandwich Harbour, a Ramsar-listed lagoon inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park and one of Namibia's most important coastal wetlands. Good for photographers and birders, returning via the Kuiseb Delta.
Scenic Flights
Rates On Request
Duration:
One Hour +
Seen from the air, the Namib's dunes run straight into the Atlantic. Routes range from flights over the Namib near Swakopmund to longer ones over the Skeleton Coast and Sossusvlei.
Swakopmund Bites and Brews
Rates On Request
Duration:
14h00 - 18h00
An afternoon of local produce near Swakopmund: farms producing jojoba and !nara oil, an olive grove and a coffee roastery, then a tasting of Swakopmund craft beer and gin with locally made snacks.
Swakopmund City Tour
Rates On Request
Duration:
09h00-10h30 or 14h00-15h30
A 90-minute drive through Swakopmund's story, from its German colonial roots to the present day. We visit the township as well as the old town, comparing property prices, incomes and living standards across the town's communities.
Swakopmund Quad Biking
Rates On Request
Duration:
From One Hour
For the more adventurous, one to three hours on a quad bike up and over the coastal dunes outside Swakopmund. It isn't about speed but about seeing the Namib from a different perspective.
Welwitschia Tour
Rates On Request
Duration:
08h30-12h30 or 14h00-18h00
A four-hour morning or afternoon tour from Swakopmund through the eroded Moon Landscape of the Swakop River valley to the Welwitschia Plains in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Learn about and photograph the desert-adapted plants, above all the two-leaved welwitschia, many of which are thought to be over 1,000 years old.
Swakopmund Day Tours: Your Questions Answered
Which day tours can you do from Swakopmund?
Our Swakopmund tours range from a Walvis Bay dolphin and seal cruise and the Living Dunes desert walk to an afternoon 4x4 trip to Sandwich Harbour. You can also take a welwitschia tour through the Moon Landscape, a scenic flight, quad biking, a town tour, or an afternoon of local food, coffee, craft beer and gin.
How many nights should I spend in Swakopmund?
We recommend two to three nights. Two nights gives you one full day, enough for a morning and an afternoon tour, such as the dolphin cruise followed by the welwitschia tour. A third night lets you add a scenic flight or a slower day in town before the next leg of your safari.
How long do the Swakopmund tours take?
Most of our tours run for three to four hours, in the morning or the afternoon. The town tour takes about 90 minutes and quad biking one to three hours, while Sandwich Harbour is the longest at around five and a half hours. The welwitschia and town tours run morning or afternoon, so they pair easily with another tour.
What is the difference between the dolphin and seal cruise and the Sandwich Harbour tour?
The cruise is a morning on the water; Sandwich Harbour is an afternoon on the sand. The cruise leaves Walvis Bay for the Cape fur seal colony at Pelican Point, watching for Heaviside's and bottlenose dolphins. Sandwich Harbour is a 4x4 drive through the dunes to a Ramsar-listed lagoon inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
What will I see on the Living Dunes tour?
You will meet the small animals that live in the dune belt of the Dorob National Park. Guides track down species such as the Namaqua chameleon, sidewinding adder, shovel-snouted lizard, web-footed gecko and dancing white lady spider, and explain how each survives in the Namib. Our lobster-lunch version ends with lunch on the beach.
Can I see the welwitschia without a tour?
Yes, if you get a park permit in advance from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism office in Swakopmund. The Welwitschia Drive is a marked route through the Moon Landscape to the Welwitschia Plains in the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Our guided tour adds a guide who explains the desert plants, including welwitschias that may be over 1,000 years old.
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