namibia sandwich harbour tour

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Welcome to desert compass tours & safaris cc, your ultimate guide for unforgettable desert adventures. we specialize in expertly guided tours that bring you closer to the breathtaking beauty of the desert landscapes. whether you're seeking a thrilling dune bashing experience or a peaceful sunset camel ride, our knowledgeable guides are dedicated to providing you with an immersive and educational journey through the heart of the desert. join us for an exploration of the rich cultural heritage and diverse wildlife that make the desert environment so captivating. with desert compass tours & safaris cc, every step of your desert adventure is meticulously planned to ensure your safety, comfort, and enjoyment. embark on an extraordinary desert exploration with us and create timeless memories to cherish for a lifetime., sandwich harbour 4x4 excursion.

Discover the untouched beauty of Sandwich Harbour on a thrilling 4x4 excursion led by knowledgeable guides who will show you the best of this coastal gem. Sandwich Harbour has been declared a Ramsar Site on 23 August 1995. It is situated approximately 60-80km south of Walvisbay and is now best known for its birdlife in the lagoon to the south of the bay. The Bay and lagoon are within the Namib-Naukluft National Park and to enter, visitors need a permit. For a thrilling ride, book your tour today! Tour Description: * Duration +- 5 Hours (Half Day) Departure AM / PM * Check in @ Walvis Bay Lagoon Waterfront @ 8AM / 12PM * Swakopmund pick-up on request at an extra cost * Complimentary Snacks and drinks Included. Rates: N$2250 per person (Minimum 2 Pax) Additional Fee of N$300 per person for pick-up and drop-off in Swakopmund.

Pelican Point Peninsula Tour

Pelican Point Peninsula is situated north-west of Walvisbay and is where you will come across a wide variety of bird life, a large colony of seals and a breathtaking view surrounding the Pelican Point Lodge right next to the lighthouse. It is only accessible with 4x4 vehicles. As you drive along the Peninsula you will take in the beauty of the lagoon, pass one of the world's largest salt mines and view the shipwreck along the way to Pelican Point. This tour is approximately 3 hours and is ideal for the tourist with limited time to explore. Book Your Tour Today! Tour Description: * Duration +-3 Hours Departure AM / PM * Check in @ Walvis Bay Lagoon Waterfront @ 8AM / 12PM * Swakopmund pick-up on request at an extra cost * Complimentary Snacks and drinks Included. Rates: N$1500 per person (Minimum 2 Pax) Additional Fee of N$300 per person for pick-up and drop-off in Swakopmund.

Treasure of the Namib Desert

The treasure of the Namib Desert tour includes sightings of the Lagoon, Salt Pans (Pink Lake), Dune 7, Moon Landscape, Goanikontes German Farm and Swakopmund. A drive through the Swakopmund township and the town itself. Complimentary snacks and drinks included at an amazing viewpoint. The city was founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German Southwest Africa. It is characterized by German colonial architecture with its distinctly German flavor. Book Your Tour Today! Tour Description: * Duration 5 hours * Pick-up is done at the Walvis Bay Lagoon Waterfront / In the Port of Walvis Bay at the ship. * Swakopmund pick-ups done on request at an extra cost. Rates: N$1850 Per Person (Minimum 4 Pax) N$150 Dune 7 Entrance Fee not included in the tour price. Additional Fee of N$300 per person for pick-up and drop-off in Swakopmund.

Discover the beauty of the desert landscape while enjoying premium booking services with Desert Compass Tours & Safaris.

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• Walvis Bay, Namibia
• P.O Box 2464 Walvisbay

•   [email protected]

•     [email protected]
•   Walvis Bay, Namibia
• (P.O Box 2464 Walvisbay)

+264 (0)81 127 2522   |   [email protected]

Sandwich Harbour 4x4

With beach braai book now.

Sand and sea, ocean and ancient sand dunes . . . if you are looking for a beyond epic adventure, our Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Experience is just for you!

Begin your day, or end your day with a +- 6 hour, beautiful expedition! We offer both AM and PM tours, where our experienced guides and equipped 4x4’s will take you through the arresting dune landscape of Sandwich Harbour. With huge sand dunes and the Atlantic ocean at your feet, you will have epic photo ops and magical memories to take home  -  Often described as ‘one of my most amazing experiences ever!’ 

Our unique lunch setting on Pelican Point Peninsula is also there for you! Arriving by fast catamaran (AM tour) or returning over the bay (PM tour), you have approximately 20-30 min on the water, giving you a snapshot of the bay, our marine environment, Pelicans, seals and even dolphins.

The sit-down Beach Braai will provide an exceptional Namibian culinary experience, right on the pristine Pelican Point beach! The lighthouse, seal colonies, famous Donkey Bay and just spending time on the serene sand peninsula, are all added bonuses not to be missed!

AM: 7h30 - 14h00

PM: 11h45 - 17h30

Adults – N$ 3 870.00

Children (Under 12 years of age) – N$ 3 000.00

Rates exclude the Parks Permit Fees.

Rate change - 1st November 2024

Adults – N$ 4 140.00

Children (Under 12 years of age) – N$ 3 200.00

CHECK IN TIME AND DEPARTURE POINT:

Check-in is 15 minutes prior to departure at Mola Mola office. Guests will receive a boarding pass for their 4x4. Depart and return to and from the Waterfront/the Mola Mola office.

HIGHLIGHTS:

COMMON SIGHTINGS:

BIRD SIGHTINGS:

Flamingos, Pelicans, Cormorants, White Chinned Petrel, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Cape Gannet, Black Oystercatcher.

4X4 & BOATS:

We run Land Rover Defenders and also Toyota 4x4’s. We are always strict about vehicle quality and esthetics. All our boats (fast catamarans) have a covered cabin area, comfortable seating and toilet facilities on board (for the short bay crossing to or from the Peninsula).

*Private vehicles on request

WHEELCHAIRS:

We can accommodate wheelchairs, please advise when booking!

All 4x4’s and boats are fully insured and surveyed annually. All guides and skippers have valid licenses and go through thorough guide and first aid training. All the necessary safety equipment, first aid kits and life jackets (for adults and children) can be found on board of every vessel. We also carry Satphones on Sandwich Harbour tours.

LANGUAGES: 

English, German, Afrikaans. Tour guides, needed for translation purposes, can join free of charge. Please advise nationality as we try to keep nations and languages together. 

​ Expect a welcoming table with fresh Namibian oysters and sparkling wine. A beach braai (barbeque) with flame-grilled Namibian crayfish and Namibian beef fillet, with a variety of colorful, delicious salads, freshly baked breads, white wine and dessert. Beer, soft drinks, water, and juice are also available.

PRIVATE 4X4's:

Available on request.

Hats and sunscreen lotion are recommended.

SEASICKNESS:

Boats usually stay in the protected lagoon/bay area during the tours. The tours are also done in the mornings before the infamous Walvis Bay wind picks up. All boats are stable double hull catamarans.

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Cars and Dunes and Ocean

Palmato Gecko

Breathtaking Landscapes

Dune Lunch with Oysters and Champagne

Flamingos in Walvis Bay

Recommendation: full day combo.

The Sandwich Harbour Tour can be combined with the Catamaran Cruise from Catamaran Charters (Full Day Combo).

Catamaran Charters offers cruises in the Walvis Bay lagoon in four luxurious catamarans. In search of the marine Big 5 (whales, dolphins, Mola Molas, Leatherback turtles and seals) guests will enjoy an unforgettable experience.

More about the Catamaran Cruises

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Catamaran Silver Sand

Silverwind with Dolphin

Heaviside Dolphins

Humpback Whale

Oyster Lunch

Pelican visit

Cape fur seal

Leatherback Turtle

Rates & reservations, booking enquiry.

It’s our pleasure to book this activity for you. You will have no additional costs as we charge the public rates. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions .

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Sandwich Harbour 4x4

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Half-Day Sandwich Harbour Tour from Walvis Bay with Lunch

Full Day Tour Shipwreck Sandwich Harbour Adventure

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Sandwich Harbour 4x4 - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

..We will help you find amazing places..

Never stop exploring.

  Morning Sandwhich    Harbour Adventure

  Marine & Desert         Combo Adventure

  Afternoon Sandwhich  Harbour Adventure

  KAYAK & Desert         Combo Adventure

we love what we do

Total adventure, total kilometers ​​​​​​​of adventure , total happy ​​​​​​​adventurers  ​​​​​​ .

nande junias

​​​​​​​" Great tour company highly recommended​​​​​​​ "

​​​​​​​" Thank you so much for an amazing tour!! I loved every minute, I learnt so much and felt so safe "

Stefan Van wyk

​​​​​​​" Awesome Trip!!! Worth every cent!!!​​​​​​​ "

jurgens swart

​​​​​​​"  Defnitely the guy for the job, one of the best tour operators I know "

Nicholas louw

​​​​​​​" Thanks again for such an epic trip out to Sandwich Harbor. I really love your tours and highly recommend you for your safety, knowledge and just absolute great time!

what our customers say

Breathtaking scenery ​​​​​​​thrilling 4x4 drive ​​​​​​​lunch with a view ​​​​​​​desert view ​​​​​​​desert fauna & flora, free transfers from swakopmund ​​​​​​​included.

Bird-watching

We offer guided birding excursions, proven to ​​​​​​​satisfy the needs of all types of birders, from novice to the seasoned veteran.... Sandwich Harbour ​​​​​​​offers a large variety of bird species from predatory birds to the very special LB J's, like the Dune Lark.

Sandwich harbour 4x4 tours, ​​​​​​​ venture through golden landscapes and find the secret place where the atlantic touches the world's oldest desert.. sandy horizon tours offers an adventurous sandwich harbour 4x4 experience within the naukluft park. ​​​​​​​amazing views of the the walvisbay lagoon, kuiseb delta, atlantic ocean and namib desert provides the perfect setting for a namibian adventure.  ​​​​​​​ .

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Coast and Sandwich Harbour

Overview: Coast and Sandwich Harbour

The details, coast and sandwich bay tour: picture gallery.

What to look forward to.

Explore the remote and inhospitable Skeleton Coast with an expert guide.

You''ll drive down the coast...

...and over dunes...

...hopefully reaching Sandwich Bay.

Along the way you might spot some of the areas wildlife...

...either from the vehicle...

...or on foot.

Expect to see plenty of birdlife...

...both at Sandwich Bay and Walvis Bay.

Coast and Sandwich Harbour reviews

9 independent first-hand comments from our travellers.

27 Apr 2024

"Coast and Sandwich Harbour review"

Overall rating: Excellent

15 Dec 2023

12 Dec 2023

27 Oct 2023

25 Sep 2023

Overall rating: Average

22 Sep 2023

24 Aug 2023

21 Jun 2023

See all Coast and Sandwich Harbour reviews

Ideas for holidays which can include Coast and Sandwich Harbour

Add this experience to these trip ideas or contact us to start planning your own tailor-made holiday to Namibia.

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Other excursions in Namibia

Inspiration and great ideas for other experiences in Namibia to include in your holiday.

Kayaking with seals

Morning incl. tea, coffee & sandwiches

Get up close and personal with a colony of Cape fur seals on a kayaking excursion from Walvis Bay. Enjoy a gentle morning’s paddle in Walvis Bay Lagoon as seals surround and interact with you and your kayak. If you’re lucky you may even catch a glimpse of some Heaviside’s or bottlenose dolphins.

Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion

Full day, including lunch

Escape the crowds and experience the iconic and beautiful Namib Sand Sea with an experienced guide from Hoodia Desert Lodge. The approach is personal and the guiding knowledgeable, making your introduction to the highlights of the Namib-Naukluft National Park, including Sesriem Canyon and the famous pans of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, both interesting and unhurried.

Ballooning in the Namib Desert

Half day, including breakfast

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Dolphin and seal cruise

Half-day inc brunch

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Desert tour

Variable, depending on the tour

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Variable, depending on the flight

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Windhoek City Tour

three hour Windhoek City Tour

The 3 hours includes Independence Museum and Katutura

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Including elephant & black rhinos

Wildlife - smaller antelope

Including klipspringer & common duiker

Wildlife - primates

including Chacma baboon & Lesser bushbaby

Wildlife - small mammals

Including banded mongoose & pangolin

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The best time to visit Namibia

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Sandwich Harbour

Sandwich Harbour , Namibia

Sandwich Harbour lies 64km south of Walvis Bay along a rough-hewn track which can only be accessed with a 4×4 vehicle. It is best to go on a guided Sandwich Harbour Tour , or on a Guided self-drive tour.

Sandwich Harbour was attractive to seafarers, as a destination for fresh water, meat, whaling and fishing. Now it is best-known for the many birds and stunning dune scenery, where dune meets sea.

Surrounded by towering dunes, on the northernly shore, lies the bay. The stormy sea has swelled its banks and entered the once freshwater lagoon, contaminating it with saltwater. Sandwich Bay mouth has once again sanded up and one of the reasons it was never suitable as a Harbour. Beyond that, the Namib Sand Sea, with its red dune belt stretches off to the horizon with stunning Dune views.

History of Sandwich

In 1789 Capt. James Shields, for Enderby and Son Fishing Co., was chartered to catch whales along the Angolan and Namibian coast. One of the Ships, HMS Sandwich was sent south to collect fresh water and meat. It is generally inferred that these sailors first charted the bay and named it  Sandwich Harbour . In 1884 Germany colonised the area from the Orange River to the Kunene but Britain retained Walfish Bay. German settlers soon arrived and from 1894 Sandwich, which was the only natural harbour Germany could use, became a real Business hub. A corned beef meat canning factory was erected as well as a fish drying camp. These did not last long as the harsh conditions and the bay sanding up were continuous problems.

During the 1920s, the Guano rush started. The Guano was harvested off the small island in the Bay. Due to its lucrative nature, sand was pumped on to the island to enlarge it and make it high enough for the Springtide not to destroy the guano layer, marauding jackals soon discovered how to make their way to the island at low tide, and scared the birds off. Loading the Guano on to the ships was a tedious task, with the bay sanding up and trucks breaking down in the difficult sandy conditions.

With no commercial future in sight, Sandwich Harbour became a nature park in 1954 and was later incorporated into the Namib-Naukluft National Park. 

For the Birders

The once abundance of Birds has won the lagoon at Sandwich Harbour, one of 5 Ramsar acclaimed Wetlands in Namibia. Up to 50 000 birds, from time to time, were seen in the Lagoon and along the beach between Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour, such as, Flamingos, Plovers, Gulls, Terns, Pelicans, Turnstones, Avocets and other palearctic waders. The little Sanderling chasing the waves or further afield, the endemic Dune lark and Chestnut banded Plover roam the quiet desert sands. Sadly, since the new developments in the Walvisbay Lagoon most birds have now migrated there.

For the Photographers

Sandwich harbour is the ideal setting in creating the most awesome pictures of Dunes, animals, and birds alike. The thousands of Birds and the Stunning Dune scene will surely create the fondest and most memorable memories. A Sandwich Harbour Tour is must for visitors to Namibia’s west coast.

Desert Dunes & Dust Tours offer the Classic Sandwich Harbour Tour both half-day and full-day tours , with English or German Guiding. We share history and our passion for the area with you. Well worth contacting on your Namibia Holiday.

© 2024 Sandwich Harbour Tours. NTB registration: TSO 01204. Powered by Desert Dunes & Dust Tours

Impressive Sandwich Harbour Day Tour, Swakopmund: Namibia

Sandwich Harbour Day Tour

The Sandwich Harbour Day Tour from Swakopmund, Namibia is one of many activities you can do from this small town along the coast.

From skydiving, sand boarding, scenic flights, and atv rides, you will quickly realize its tough to make a decision. For most people on overland trips, you will have one full day to do an optional activity in Swakopmund, so you want to make your choice wisely.

Searching online before my trip, I found out about the place called Sandwich Harbour which is a few hours south of Swakopmund and only accessible by 4×4. The pictures I saw online showed amazing sand dunes rising up right beside the Atlantic Ocean, so I knew it’s what I wanted to do. Sandwich Harbour is actually a bay and the main attraction that most people see on the tour is a lagoon which during certain times of the year hosts thousands upon thousands of birds. More about that later though.

So before the start of my overland trip, I contacted Turnstone Tours who are one of the operators of the day trip and booked a trip with them for the day that I would be in Swakopmund.

Sandwich Harbour Day Tour Details

The morning of the tour, I got picked up early from my hotel by the friendly guide in a nice 4×4 and we commenced to pick up just 2 other people for the full day tour to Sandwich Harbour.

For the next 30 minutes or so, we drove down to Walvis Bay where we had a small stop to view the flamingos that are famous in the area.

Continuing on past Walvis bay, we drove past the massive salt refineries along the coast and finally reached the sand. At this point there was a sign notifying people that if you didn’t have a 4×4 you should not continue past that point. Our guide told us that numerous tourists have taken their vehicles to try to see Sandwich Harbour on their own, only to get stuck in the sand because they didn’t have a proper 4×4 or they didn’t know how to operate their 4×4 for the sandy conditions.

The way to Sandwich Harbour continued along the ocean as we drove in between large patches of fog, not knowing if it would clear up for us to see well when we would arrive to the harbour. Along the way, we were able to see various birds and wildlife like jackals.

After an hour or two along the coast, we finally reached the most important section. The thing I forgot to mention earlier, is that Sandwich Harbour is only accessible during low tide and even then, depending on the weather conditions, you may not be able to reach the actually lagoon at the harbour.

In fact, my guide had said that in the few weeks prior he hadn’t been able to access it with the guests because the way in is so narrow and you need the perfect conditions. Basically the way in is a narrow path between the sand dunes and the ocean. So if the ocean conditions are too high or too many waves, you don’t have a way in.

As you can see in the photo above, the way in is quite narrow. This photo was taken just around the time of low tide, so you can imagine where the water is during high tide. And below is a video of the narrow section we had to drive into.

Thankfully for us though, we got past the most narrow section where the guide hadn’t been able to get through in the week prior and it looked like we would be able to reach the bay.

As we continued in, the area became a bit wider and the dunes to our left became higher as well. Also, with our luck, the fog started to clear up just in time.

Finally, with a lot of luck, we reached Sandwich Harbour and it was a sight to behold. Massive golden dunes the the left and right in front of us, a beautiful blue lagoon of water. To the right was the atlantic ocean.

The sad part was, that we didn’t have a lot of time here. Because of the tides, I was given between 20-30 minutes to enjoy the area, so that meant a quick climb up the dune to get a better aerial perspective.

Much to our surprise, there weren’t many birds here. Some times of the year, this area has thousands upon thousands of birds. However, for whatever reason, there weren’t many birds to be seen this day. I wasn’t about to complain though, because even just the fact of us being able to drive in to Sandwich Harbour made the whole trip worth it.

So after about 30 minutes we made our way out of the Harbour area and into the dunes to finish up our afternoon. We drove through the dunes to an awesome lunch spot.

The lunch spot must get used a lot as there were three jackals hanging out around our area hoping for a scrap of food or just out of curiousity.

We finished our lunch and cleaned everything up before dune bashing our way back towards Swakopmund. It was amazing to see the guide navigate the 4×4 through and over top the large dunes.

He made safety first though and took things really easy in the most dangerous locations.

Finally, following the time through the dunes, we made it back out to the coast for our final stretch back towards Swakopmund.

Would you recommend the Sandwich Harbour Day Tour?

Yes, I would recommend this tour, as it was a great way to explore the coast of Namibia and also see the dunes so close to the ocean which you don’t get to see in too many locations. However, it is rather pricy, so if you are on a more budget tight trip, you may want to see about a different activity or doing just the half day tour vs. the full day tour. The full day is around $130US per person for a group of 3 and slightly less if you are a group of 4.

If you have any questions about the tour or sandwich harbour, let us know in the comments below!

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No Limit - Tours

Sandwich Harbour and Deep Sea Fishing

 A Must Tour When Visiting Namibia 

Sandwich Harbour Tours

Guided or Self Drive Tours ...where the desert meets the ocean

Sandwich Harbour Tours is part of the Namiba Naukluft Park, a small lagoon southwest of Walvisbay, the dune and sea meet here to form this landmark attraction.

Highlights of the tour :

Guided tour or Self drives

Walvisbay Lagoon (Flamingos and different bird watching) ,

Salt Pans(pink lakes)

Sandwich Harbour Lagoon

Picnic in the Dunes

4x4 Dune Drive

Treasures of the Namib: From Walvisbay or Swakopmund Explore Welwitchia plants and Moonland Scape - shore excursion Tour Duration @ 5 hours

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Deep Sea Fishing 

Live this unmissable deep-sea fishing experience in Namibia!

Tour highlights:

- Guided boat tour

- Deep sea fishing

- Tour duration @ 5 hours

- Take home the fish you catch

- The most common fish to catch is kabeljou, back tail, steenbras, catfish and variety of shark.

- Included: Monthly fishing license for fishing throughout Namibia's territory

- Included: Fishing gear, bait and tackle. 

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Sandwich Harbour

Namib-Naukluft National Park, Erongo Region, Namibia

Bucket List Experience

The natural lagoon at Sandwich Harbour – 55kms south of Walvis Bay and within the Namib-Naukluft National Park – is renowned as one of the best birding locations on the African coast, attracting thousands of migratory fowl in early summer (October-November).

Designated a Ramsar ‘wetland of global importance’, the combination of dunes and lagoon is breathtaking, while the dramatic drive along the coast – with the chance to sight springbok and brown hyena – make this one of the Atlantic coastline’s natural wonders.

Getting there & doing it

Operators will collect you from your hotel in Swakopmund or Walvis Bay for this full-day excursion into the deserts south of Walvis Bay. Transport is in comfortable 4WD vehicles, with refreshments and lunch provided.

It’s possible to visit Sandwich Harbour in your own vehicle, but it’s definitely not recommended. You’ll need a permit, and the shifting sands make finding the right route difficult.

When to do it

Tours run all year round, seven days a week, departing first thing in the morning.

The best time to visit Walvis Bay, and Namibia in general, is the dry season from June to October, but it is a year-round destination with generally pleasant weather. October and November, however, are especially good when the numbers of migratory birds reach their peak.

Who to go with: organised tours

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Sandwich Harbour Half-Day 4x4 Tour (5 hours) from Walvis Bay

Price ZAR 3,000

Rating 4.94 / 5 [112 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Scenic Sandwich Harbour Tour

Price ZAR 2,250

Rating 4.84 / 5 [75 ratings]

Sandwich Harbour 4x4 guided tours.Join us for an awe inspiring adventure.

Price ZAR 2,400

Rating 4.98 / 5 [59 ratings]

Half-Day Sandwich Harbour Tour from Walvis Bay with Lunch

Rating 4.81 / 5 [58 ratings]

Sandwich Harbour Adventure: Seals and Sandwich harbour dune drive

Price ZAR 2,950

Rating 4.85 / 5 [47 ratings]

Who to go with: tour operators

Our writer’s recommended tour operators to book with

Turnstone Tours

Swakopmund, Erongo, Namibia

TourOperator

Swakopmund-based Bruno & Kate Nebe offers high-quality, private bespoke tours to all parts of Namibia, including some of the least accessible but most spectacular parts. Their Sandwich Harbour tours are among the best.

Sandwich Harbour 4×4

Walvis Bay, Erongo, Namibia

Walvis Bay company offering 4×4 excursions to Sandwich Harbour and the Walvis Bay wetlands. Combination tours with marine cruises, kayaking, and birdwatching tours are also available.

Namibia Kayak Tours

Well-regarded local Walvis Bay tour operator offering affordable kayak tours off Walvis Bay’s Pelican Point, safaris to Sandwich Harbour and combos of both.

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 Red Dune Safaris |Registered Tour Operator in Walvis Bay| Email: [email protected]    | Mobile:   +264 81 2244 530

We offer the BEST things to DO in Walvis Bay *PrivateTours* Specialised Photography Tours* Safaris* Shore Excursions* Small Groups*   *Sandwich - Harbour Guided Self-Drive * Etosha Safaris Book your adventure with us, the trusted experts !

  Sandwich Harbour  Shore Excursion

Incredible landscape, incredible sunshine and incredible guide!

We stayed one afternoon with Jacques to discover Sandwich Bay. We had a wonderful time. Our guide was totally in love with his region. We had the chance to have the clouds who played with the sun. Landscapes were so marvellous. Each curves offered us a new wonderful view. Jacques is so kind and full of information and stories about his country and especially sandwich bay area. We had a delicious snack, he was full of attention with us. He was the perfect guide !!! A thousand of thanks for Jacques who introduced us to the mysteries of his country. He gave us a new vision of the relation between the different ethnic group. He explained the birth of the dune, the water travel in the desert, the life of the animals...  To everybody who want discover Sandwich Bay, Red Dune Safaris is the dealer of dream you need. we highly recommend it !

Durtion: 5 hours

Cost: nad2732.00 per person (min of 2 adults), the tour starts/ends in walvis bay., port pickup & drop-off available at check-out., private tour option available at check-out, highlights:, get off the beaten track in our 4x4, walvis bay salt refinery, dune belt driving, bird viewing, massive dunes meet the atlantic ocean, picnic lunch in the desert, please note: due to the tides and unpredictable weather, we may not be able to access the lagoon at sandwich harbour on the day of your tour. if this occurs, we will take you to a view point of the lagoon instead., sandwich harbour is a lagoon on the atlanic coast of namibia, south from walvis bay, within the namib-naukluft national park., formaly a commerial port based around whaling and small scale fishing,it declined as the harbour silted up, and is now best known for its birdlife, which can be as many as 250 000 ., although called sandwich harbour, it was never a harbour or even a port, it is a shallow lagoon lying about 80km south of walvis bay., experience the adventure and beauty of exploring the namib desert with your guide. there are many interesting sights to see, including desert fauna and flora, and giant sand dunes that run straight into the ocean. your will not be rushed as our tour can last a bit longer when possible at no extra cost to you. the typical duration of this tour is 5 hours :), our tour is a perfect blend of photography, wildlife, culture and history. you will also experience dune driving in our 4x4 vehicle, performed by our experienced guide. this is certainly the best way to spend half a day when you arevisiting the coast., what you can expect:, your day starts when we collect you from your accomodation in either walvis bay or swakopmund., after a quick briefing you start your journey to the namib naukluft national park., the first stop is at the tranqual walvis bay lagoon, a ramsar site which is home to upto 250 000 flamingos, pelicans, avocents and other birdlife., next, we stop near the walvis bay salt refinery, it is the largest solar evaporation plant in africa, refining upto 750 000 tons of salt per year., from there we head towards the beach for a fun drive towards sandwich harbour., you now enter the namib naaukluft national park, the largest park in africa at 49 000 square kilometers, it also marks the old border line between namibia and south africa., after some coastal driving you will reach the narrow passage close to sandwich bay. this is where the huge namib dunes meet the atlantic. you will have the opportunity for photographs here, and then its the last stretch to sandwich bay., once at sandwich lagoon, you will have time to explore this amazing landscape. we climb the 100 meter tall dunes in search of the best view.,  if the weather permits, we will set up lunch here for you, if weather is unpleasant, then we will find a secluded spot in the the desert and set up your lunch., after lunch, we take a slow drive back towards walvis bay whilst looking for wildlife., your tour concludes at you pick-up point..

Enjoy your lunch as you breath fresh air and feel the warm sun on your skin.

This is the awesome viewpoint of the Harbour at Sandwich Bay.

The sign says it all!

• Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Scenic Excursion - Half Day

Shipwreck Sandwich Harbour Excursion - Full Day

• Sailing Desert Adventure - Full Day
• Full Day Sandwich Harbour 4x4
• Photography Excursion - Sunset
• Flying Dress Photo-shoot - Half Day
• Shipwrecks & Diamonds - 3 Days
• Walvis Wetlands Birding - Half Day
• Bogenfels & Diamonds
• Diamond History
• Our Location

Experience a piece of Namibia's central Skeleton Coast exposed to the stormy South Atlantic Ocean claiming numerous ships over past centuries. Combine the scenic beauty and wildlife of the Kuiseb Delta and Sandwich Harbour, as we explore further South along the coastline to an area where the Namibian coast claimed another victim, the Shawnee, a transport tug that ran aground in foul weather on 16 February 1976 about 15 miles north of Conception Bay.

This one-day excursion is designed for those interested in experiencing the rugged beauty of the Namibian coastal landscape and dreams of seeing an actual shipwreck stuck high-up on a beach in one of the world's most isolated places.

We check in at our office at the Walvis Bay Waterfront at 08h00 for a departure shortly thereafter.  After a short break at the Walvis Bay Lagoon to see masses of flamingos, the drive initially takes us through our exclusive Concession area to the Kuiseb river delta, a dry riverbed where the odd springbok may still be seen.  If weather and tides allow, we will drive right to the Sandwich Harbour Lagoon along the beach, one of Southern Africa’s richest and unique wetlands and one of five  RAMSAR sites (Ramsar site no. 743) in Namibia.  Sandwich Harbour boasts two distinct wetlands and associated mudflats.  One is aquifer-fed and supports typical emergent vegetation, but is slowly disappearing due to natural causes. The second, under tidal influence, consists of mudflats and raised shingle bars.  Wedged between the sea and the Namib Dunes, it is one of Namibia's most important coastal wetlands, supporting eight endangered species among the large numbers of wading birds. 

If our vehicles cannot drive all along the beach to get to Sandwich Harbour because of high tide, we will get a chance to see the lagoon area from one of our many beautiful lookout spots and will have the time to walk and explore.  We have lots of time to stop along the way for photography.

We proceed on a route through the dunes and along the beach, stopping at various spots along the spectacular Sandwich Harbour lagoon.  We drive southwards on narrow stretches of beach where the majestic dunes of the Namib desert roll into the sea. 

We will arrive at the Shawnee ship wreck late morning.  Namibia’s coast’s rough seas, roaring winds and strong ocean currents are primarily responsible for a number of shipwrecks strewn along the Namibian coast.  One of these is the Shawnee, a transport tug that ran aground in mysterious circumstances on 6th February 1976.   Now wedged on a narrow stretch between the ocean and the dunes, it is home to a variety of seabirds and black-backed jackal.

We serve lunch on the spectacular beach at the wreck, consisting of a selection of fresh Namibian oysters paired with crisp sparkling wine; meat and fish platters with Namibian beer, an assortment of cooldrinks and bottled mineral water.

We proceed over some exhilarating dunes and you will experience some of the area’s typical fauna and flora. 

Animals which have developed ways to adapt to the desert include the black-backed jackal, fog-basking beetle, dancing spider (‘white lady of the Namib’), golden mole, shovel-snouted lizard, palmato gecko, springbok, oryx, brown hyena and ostrich.  Endemic to the central Namib Desert, the !Nara plant has adapted well to the desert.  Its tap root can reach more than 15m into the ground to reach water resources. 

Passing a stretch through the Kuiseb Delta, we will be back at the Waterfront at around 17h00.