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| Self-drive excursions - Walvis
Bay |
Walvis Bay and
Swakopmund are definitely well worth a visit. You will need around 2.5 to 3
hours for the roughly 190 km from Rooisand to Walvis Bay.
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A large part of the route is
well-maintained gravel road which takes you over the Kuiseb Pass and across the
Namib Desert. This excursion is quite suitable for a daytrip, but the coast
offers a host of attractions and we therefore recommend that you spend at least
one night.
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accommodation we recommend Eberwein Hotel. Located in the centre of Swakopmund,
you can leave your car parked and explore the old part of the town on foot. The
email address is eberwein@iafrica.com.na and for the
hotel's website click
here. |
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| Here are some ideas for your visit to Walvis Bay / Swakopmund:
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Drive into Walvis Bay and continue along the coast for a few
kilometres to watch large flocks of flamingos feeding in the shallow waters of
the lagoon. All along the coastal road there are spacious parking areas where
you can stop and watch the flamingos and many other seabirds.
If you
continue along the coastal road you come to a large factory where table salt is
produced. Turn right and drive between shallow basins in which raw salt remains
as the seawater evaporates. Here, too, you can watch many species of
seabirds. |
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A
seal and dolphin cruise (just under five hours) with the "seal whisperer" of
Levo Tours is without doubt a very special experience.
On this truly
memorable tour it may just happen that seals come and join you on board; you
will also encounter turtles, pelicans and ghost ships (see our picture gallery
on Walvis Bay and Swakopmund).
Contact Levo Tours:
Email: levo@namibnet.com
Homepage:
www.levotours.com
How to find
Levo Tours Walvis Bay
The story of the "seal whisperer" is featured
on the Bwana website at bwana.de (german only). |
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| Turtles ... |
... pelicans and |
... ghost ships |
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Another good choice for an unusual, individual dolphin and seal
cruise is Catamaran Charters, also located in Walvis
Bay.
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Namib Naukluft National Park with Moonscape, Welwitschia Drive and
the Oasis of Goanikontes
Another highlight is a drive through the
moonscape of Namib Naukluft Park to the Welwitschia Plain and back to
Swakopmund via the oasis of Goanikontes. This tour takes about 4 hours and can
be done with any ordinary car.
Take the C28
from Swakopmund and then turn onto the D1991. You will pass several lookout
spots with grand views of the moonscape before you turn onto the Welwitschia
Drive. You have to retrace part of the way in order to drive straight through
the moonscape to Goanikontes. Take the B2 tarred road back to Swakopmund,
passing the villages of Namib and Nonidas. |
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| The moonscape of the Namib Naukluft Parks seen from one of the
lookout points |
A
Welwitschia, not particularly beautifulbut very rare and up to 2000 years
old
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in
the "lunar" landscape, close to the oasis of Goanikontes |
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By the way: If you just want to romp in the dunes and/or the desert on a
quad-bike (basically a motorbike with four wheels), you will find a number of
quad-bike rentals along the coastal road between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. You
can join a guided tour or go for it on your own.
Taking a stroll in Swakopmund and looking around
the shops is always worth your while. If you love colours and shapes you will
want to shop till you drop … |
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in the cosy centre of town ... |
at
the street market ... |
or
one of the many shops |
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For
those who love minerals and gems, the Crystal Gallery (close to the railway
station) is an absolute MUST.
All types of minerals that can be found
in Namibia are beautifully displayed there. In addition the gallery houses the
world's largest cluster of quartz crystals, weighing in at more than 14
tons. |
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The gallery also sells jewellery and minerals, of course. However,
items on offer take a discreet back seat, and the Crystal Gallery really is a
gallery true to its name.
Visitors who know little or nothing about
minerals and gems will equally enjoy this experience.
See Rooisand's picture galleries for many more
pictures of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Namib Naukluft Park. |
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