AfricaNamibiaErongo Region
Walvis Bay
Erongo Region, Namibia · Africa
About Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay sits on the route: 35 minutes from Swakopmund.
Walvis Bay is in Erongo Region, Namibia, with about 74,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Swakopmund, about 31 km away.
Walvis Bay (Afrikaans: Walvisbaai; German: Walfischbucht or Walfischbai) is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies. It is the second largest city in Namibia and the largest coastal city in the country. The city covers an area of 29 square kilometres (11 sq mi) of land.
The bay is a haven for seaRead more
vessels due to its harbour, protected by the Pelican Point sand spit, which is the only natural deep-water harbour along the country's coast. Being rich in plankton and marine life, these waters also draw large numbers of southern right whales, attracting whalers and fishing vessels.
A succession of colonists developed the location and resources of this strategic harbour settlement. The harbour's value about the sea route around the Cape of Good Hope had caught the attention of world powers since it was discovered by the outside world in 1485. The importance of the harbour, combined with its extreme isolation by land, explains the complicated political history of the town. For much of its history, Walvis Bay was governed as an exclave separate from the rest of the territory that today is Namibia.
The town is situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn in the Kuiseb River delta and lies at the end of the TransNamib Railway to Windhoek, and on B2 road.
Walvis Bay, with its large bay and dunes, is an important centre of tourism activity in Namibia. Attractions include the artificial Bird Island, centre of a guano collection industry, the Dune 7 dune, the salt works, the abundant birdlife, and a museum. Kuisebmund Stadium, home to two clubs in the Namibia Premier League, is also located in the city. The beach resort of Langstrand lies just a few kilometres north. The Walvis Bay Export Processing Zone is an important facet of the local economy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Walvis Bay?
Walvis Bay is in Erongo Region, Namibia, about 31 km from Swakopmund.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 73,598
- Continent
- Africa
- Country
- Namibia
- Region
- Erongo Region
- Timezone
- Africa/Windhoek
- Coordinates
- -22.9575, 14.5053
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Namibia
Most highways are gravel: reduce speed and carry two spare tyres on long routes.
Full driving guide for NamibiaTags
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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