Sandwich Harbour is the iconic landscape in Namibia, where the sand dunes meet the ocean. Witness one of the country’s most impressive landmarks on a tour from Walvis Bay
By: Paul Healy | Last Updated: | Comments & Questions
Walvis Bay is not the most attractive town in Namibia, but there are two good reasons to visit.
The first is Sandwich Harbour, the iconic image of Namibia, where the sand dunes of the Namib desert meet the rough Atlantic Ocean.
The second is Pelican Point, the breeding ground for a large colony of Cape Fur Seals, which you can see up close on a kayaking tour from Walvis Bay.
Although we love travelling independently, the only way to visit Sandwich Harbour and Pelican Point is on an organised tour.
We visited them both on a combined tour, and it was one of our favourite days of our Namibia road trip.
Sandwich Harbour and Pelican Point offer an opportunity to see a side of Namibia that is rich in biodiversity, blessed with dramatic scenery and a whole lot of fun.

WHERE IS SANDWICH HARBOUR?
Sandwich Harbour is around 60 kilometres south of Walvis Bay in the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
The area, including a lagoon pool, salt pans and a bird sanctuary, forms one of Africa’s most diverse coastal wetlands.
The main reason to visit, however, is the mesmerising coastal scenery. Sand dunes from Sossusvlei, reaching a high of up to 100 metres, dramatically meet the Atlantic Ocean.
HOW TO VISIT?
The only way to visit Sandwich Harbour is on a guided tour. The terrain is extremely challenging to drive on, and only very experienced drivers are able to navigate it safely.
They can also get you to the most dramatic viewpoints, and the guides provide a lot of information about the area.
Tours to Sandwich Harbour leave from Walvis Bay.
We did the Pelican Point Kayaking Tour and the Sandwich Harbour tour on the same day, which is a great way to do it.

SANDWICH HARBOUR TOURS
It’s possible to do either the Sandwich Harbour tour or the Pelican Point. However, while you are in the area, we highly recommend doing both.
We did the Pelican Point tour in the morning and then the Sandwich Harbour tour in the afternoon. This allows you time at the Walvis Bay marina to grab lunch in between the two tours.
PELICAN POINT SEAL KAYAKING TOUR
The kayaking tour departs from Walvis Bay and starts with a scenic 4×4 drive along the Walvis Bay Lagoon and the salt mines.
The road we went out on was made of local salt and gypsum, which softens when wet and then gets compacted by the weight of cars. This effectively fixes its own potholes.
At the lagoon, we witnessed the extraordinary sight of thousands of pelicans, which give the area its name.

After around an hour we arrive at Pelican Point for the kayaking excursion.
The Cape Fur Seals have established a large colony at Pelican Point, and they estimate there are around 50,000 living here.
The tour guide gave us a quick debrief on what to do and not to do around the seals to keep them comfortable. They also provide all the equipment you need.
Then, it was time to get in the kayaks.
The seals are very playful and approached us from around 5 metres from the shoreline. If you engage with them as much as possible, you’ll soon find them nibbling on oars and nudging up against the kayaks.
After the kayaking, we had sandwiches and hot drinks on the beach before the drive back to Walvis Bay.


WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU?
Warm layers and a windbreaker are a good idea for staying warm on the water.
You’ll also get pretty wet, so bring a change of clothes and a towel. There are no changing rooms, but the guides put up small tents that you can change in behind.
The seals are very playful, so you’ll want to get photos while on the water. A waterproof case for your phone or camera is essential if you want to have it with you on the kayak.
BOOKING YOUR TOUR
Kayaking tours leave from the Waterfront at Walvis Bay.
Check-in time is between 7:30 am to 8:00 am, and the tour takes about 4.5 hours with 2 hours on the water.
Life jackets are provided, as are coffee, tea and sandwiches.
Book your Pelican Point Seal Kayaking Tour


SANDWICH HARBOUR 4×4 TOUR
The Sandwich Harbour tour also starts from Walvis Bay and drives out along the salt flats, starting with a debrief on the local ecosystem.
As we headed deeper into the Namib desert, the shrubs from the salt pan and harbour were left behind, and we were soon surrounded by nothing but sand.
The dunes present very challenging driving conditions, and the fragile nature of the ecosystems needs protection. Hence, it’s not recommended that you attempt to self-drive to Sandwich Harbour.
In any case, the tour with a professional driver is an exhilarating experience.
The 4×4 you do the tour in can manage slopes of about 30 degrees, taking you over incredible locations with spectacular views.
The highest point at Sandwich Harbour, with an ocean of rippling dunes on one side and an ocean of crashing waves on the other, is a spectacular sight.
At the viewpoint, we had the opportunity to get out and snap some photos. This was an incredible experience and one of our top things to do in Namibia.
The tour ends with oysters, champagne and snacks while you admire the view.


WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU?
Strong winds are a regular feature of Sandwich Harbour, and no matter the temperature, it can still feel cold when you’re walking around on top of the dunes. So bring layers to rug up with.
The other thing to be aware of is that you’ll need something to protect your camera from sand flying around due to the strong wind.
We were a bit unprepared for this and had to use a pull-over, which did the trick, but then I was cold! So bring a spare T-shirt to keep your camera covered up.
Sunglasses are also a good idea to keep the sand out of your eyes.
Drones are not permitted in Sandwich Harbour.
BOOKING YOUR TOUR
The Sandwich Harbour 4×4 tour leaves at around 1 pm from the waterfront at Walvis Bay.
The tour involves driving over the sand dunes for the best viewpoints and fascinating environmental information.
Afternoon tea of fresh Namibian oysters and champagne is also provided.
Book your Sandwich Harbour Tour



THE COMBO TOUR
Combining the Kayaking with the Sandwich Harbour 4×4 tour will give you a discount on both activities.
You’ll be dropped back at the waterfront in Walvis Bay, where you’ll have enough time to grab some lunch before the 4×4 tour starts around 1 pm.

MORE NAMIBIA GUIDES
- See the amazing Namibia coastal scenery on a Walvis Bay Tour.
- Read about driving the Skeleton Coast to see if it’s for you.
- Sefl-drive in Etosha National Park with our detailed guide.
- Plan your trip with our 2-week Namibia itinerary.
- Read our tips for driving in Namibia.
- The very best things to do in Namibia.

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Paul Healy
Paul is an experienced travel writer with a collection of prestigious industry awards, including the title of Blogger of the Year at both the British Guild of Travel Writers and the TravMedia Awards.
His expertise lies in crafting engaging content, focusing on city breaks, comprehensive country-wide guides, and useful travel tips.
Hello Paul,
I have been to Africa and it is such an amazing place to be. Your vivid description of scenes to enjoy has completely blown off my mind. From 4X4 tours to Kayaking with Seals, there is so much to do in Namibia for an adventurer.
Thanks, Lydia. Namibia is an amazing destination, so many great experiences to have. The 4×4 tour of the sand dunes was one we won’t forget in a hurry. Thanks for stopping by.
This sounds a fantastic adventure and good mix of wildlife, water and desert fun. I’d have been worried about using the oar if the seals were hanging around. Namibia is very high up on my list and hope to tick this off my list soon!
Thanks, Vanessa – it’s a great country so we highly recommend it. The Pelican Point Kayaking was so much fun.
The picture if seals basking in the sand is like nothing I have seen before. I will definitely include this experience on my trip to namibia
Thanks, Sinjana – glad you found it useful.
We don’t usually do tour type things either- but this would be amazing! The sand dunes are gorgeous and I’d give anything to kayak with the seals like that!
It was such a great experience, one of our highlights in Namibia for sure. Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth.
Love this!! I so wanna do Namibia soon and I pray I get to do so. This is one thing on my list there. How fun!
Thanks, Kemi – it’s a great place, hope you get there soon as well.
This looks absolutely incredible. Traveling to Namibia has long been a dream of mine, and this just makes me more determined to get there.
Thanks, Amelia – you’ll love it I’m sure, so hopefully, you make it there soon.
Your trip to Nambia looked like it was fantastic! I have always wanted to go to Nambia and anywhere in Africa actually. The sand dunes in your photos looked so beautiful!
Thanks, Luke. It’s one of our favourite countries so we highly recommend it.
Dude! That’s awesome sand dunes! Great photos!
I sailed to Sandwich Harbour from Walvis about 30 years ago and had totally forgotten about it until now. We had to get a special permit and there was not a soul in sight for 2 days. It was a wonderful experience.
Reading this, I would love to go back one day and do this tour. It looks like an awesome experience. Thanks for the great photos and bringing back happy memories of my trip.
Sounds like a great experience Janine, such an interesting part of the world. Thanks for stopping by.
You had me at kayaking with seals, but I dunno, I think riding around the dunes actually edged it. Cooooooooooooool.
Thanks, Sol. The dune riding was pretty cool.
It seems amazing to me that you can have both these experiences on the same day. Both so much fun yet so very different. I’d absolutely be up for both of these and I’m thrilled that you’ve moved on from your soggy cheese sandwiches… Great to read more about Namibia on #FarawayFiles
Thanks, Clare. Those soggy cheese sandwiches got us through many good times in Namibia, but yes, the oysters and champagne on this trip were probably a bit better.