Walvis Bay is a town along the coast from Swakopmund, but most people visit the area for its huge, natural lagoon and the nature that surrounds it. A huge amount of birdlife calls the lagoon home, including flamingos, pelicans, and rare coastal birds like the Damara tern. At the right times of year, there are a huge variety of migratory birds around too. You can also cruise out to Pelican Point peninsula with its iconic lighthouse, your boat passing oyster farms, ships, and oil rigs as you go. The waters here are packed with aquatic creatures including Namibia’s Marine Big Five – whales (usually humpback and southern right whales), dolphins, seals, leatherback turtles and sunfish, so you can see how many you can tick off as you explore!

Also around Walvis Bay are the Salt Works, a salt pan where salt is harvested but that is also a major wetland, and Sandwich Harbour, where you’ll find a freshwater lagoon and sand dunes dropping off dramatically into the sea, plus plentiful birdlife and even the odd jackal.