Swakopmund is Namibia's main coastal town and a base for day trips into the Namib: Welwitschia Drive, the Cape Cross seal colony, the Walvis Bay lagoon and Sandwich Harbour. Several of these are inside national parks, so before you go you need either a permit bought in advance from the environment ministry's Swakopmund office or a gate fee.
Key points
- Swakopmund lies inside Dorob National Park, between the Swakop River in the south and the Ugab River and Skeleton Coast Park in the north.
- Welwitschia Drive and Sandwich Harbour need a permit bought in advance from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT); its Swakopmund office is on the corner of Bismarck Street and Sam Nujoma Avenue. NWR does not issue permits.
- Cape Cross Seal Reserve, north of Swakopmund, has up to 210,000 Cape fur seals in November and December. From 1 April 2026 its fee for a foreign adult is N$280 per day.
- The Walvis Bay lagoon is a Ramsar wetland of 12,600 ha that supports 37,000 to 79,000 waterbirds, including large numbers of flamingos.
What is Swakopmund known for?
Swakopmund was founded in 1892 as the harbour of German South West Africa; the deep-water port at Walvis Bay to the south later took over that role, and the town keeps many buildings from the German colonial period. Tour operators in town offer dune trips, sandboarding, quad biking and boat trips from Walvis Bay; their prices and schedules are not regulated, so compare them directly.
Around the town, MEFT's Dorob National Park protects the central Namib coast. The ministry notes extensive lichen fields north of Wlotzkasbaken and Cape Cross, the Messum Crater with San rock paintings, and angling for kabeljou, galjoen and steenbras.
Welwitschia Drive: permit and what you see
Welwitschia Drive near Swakopmund lies in Namib-Naukluft Park, which NWR lists with its Welwitschia Trail. MEFT says you need a permit for Welwitschia Drive before you go: buy it at the MEFT office in Swakopmund (corner of Bismarck Street and Sam Nujoma Avenue) or in Windhoek. The drive takes you to Welwitschia mirabilis, a plant found only in the Namib, from central Namibia to southern Angola. A 2026 radiocarbon study dated the oldest tissue of a medium-sized plant at about 531 years and called the often-quoted 2,000-year age an extrapolation; see our guide to Welwitschia mirabilis.
Cape Cross Seal Reserve
MEFT calls Cape Cross the world's largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals, with up to 210,000 seals during the breeding season in November and December. There is a walkway for viewing, information signs and picnic areas; angling is not allowed. The Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão planted a stone cross here in 1486, and a replica stands on the site. Cape Cross is in the top fee category: N$280 per day for a non-SADC foreign adult, N$180 for a child over 8 and under 16, and N$60 for a car (MEFT schedule from 1 April 2026).
Walvis Bay lagoon and Sandwich Harbour
The Walvis Bay lagoon is Ramsar wetland no. 742, designated in 1995: a tidal lagoon of 12,600 ha with Pelican Point, mudflats and sandbars. The Ramsar record counts 37,000 to 79,000 wetland birds, flamingos "in impressive numbers" and 11 endangered species seen regularly.
Sandwich Harbour, south of Walvis Bay, is part of Namib-Naukluft Park; IUCN cites up to 400,000 waterbirds recorded there in 2005. It has its own lower fee: N$150 per day for a non-SADC foreign adult, N$100 for a child and N$50 for a car. MEFT requires a permit bought in advance.
Park fees near Swakopmund in 2026
| Place | Foreign adult (non-SADC) | Child over 8, under 16 | Car (up to 10 seats) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorob National Park, Cape Cross, Namib-Naukluft (Welwitschia Drive) | N$280 | N$180 | N$60 |
| Sandwich Harbour | N$150 | N$100 | N$50 |
Fees are per day, with a 24-hour minimum, and are not refundable (MEFT). Children aged 8 and under are free.
Living or buying property on the coast
Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are also where many foreigners look at property. What the law and the transfer costs look like is in our guide to coastal property in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.
What to check before you go
- A Welwitschia Drive or Sandwich Harbour permit from the MEFT office before you set off.
- The Cape Cross fee and opening times at the gate on the day.
- Coastal fog and cold wind: bring a warm layer even in summer.
- Prices and safety briefings for dune, quad and boat tours directly with the operator.
This material is provided for reference. Data as of October 2026.
FAQ
What is there to do in Swakopmund?
Swakopmund is a base for day trips: Welwitschia Drive into Namib-Naukluft Park, the Cape Cross seal colony, the Walvis Bay lagoon and Sandwich Harbour. In town, private operators run dune, sandboarding, quad and boat tours.
Do you need a permit for Welwitschia Drive?
Yes. Namibia's environment ministry says you must buy the permit before you go, at its Swakopmund office on the corner of Bismarck Street and Sam Nujoma Avenue or in Windhoek. Namibia Wildlife Resorts does not issue park permits.
How much does it cost to visit Cape Cross?
From 1 April 2026 Cape Cross Seal Reserve charges N$280 per day for a non-SADC foreign adult, N$180 for a child over 8 and under 16 and N$60 for a car with up to 10 seats.
When is the best time to see the seals at Cape Cross?
The ministry says the colony peaks during the breeding season in November and December, with up to 210,000 Cape fur seals.
Is Swakopmund inside a national park?
Yes. Namibia's environment ministry lists Swakopmund and Henties Bay as towns within the boundaries of Dorob National Park, which was proclaimed in 2010.
