The Namibian coastline is notoriously rugged.  As it’s mostly undeveloped, a rental car is not an ideal way to explore it.  You don’t want to get stuck alone here so a private tour is the best way to experience its beauty.

Sandwich Bay is a secluded beach located along the southern portion of the Skeleton Coast.  Depending on how much time you have available, you can choose between a full or half-day tour.  We decided to travel with Photo Ventures Namibia as they had good reviews and the shorter half-day tour option.  We kept a tight schedule during our time in the country so I was pleased to see John packed up and ready to go promptly at 8:00.  Without even making a trip into the office, we hopped into the classic Land Rover to begin the tour.

Our first stop was at the western edge of Walvis Bay to see the hundreds of Lesser Flamingos and Greater Flamingos that frequent the lagoon.  From there, we ventured off the paved roads and headed towards the Atlantic Ocean.  On the way, we passed numerous salt refineries.  John told us the history of the industry and its importance to the development of the city.  At the end of the evaporation pools, the coastal tour began.

“There are few places in the world where such massive dunes reach the sea’s edge.”

While you may be tempted to venture out to this area on your own, there is a strict permit system for vehicles proceeding beyond this point.  We were the first vehicle out for the day and the sand ahead was undisturbed.  About 30 minutes into the tour, we reached the dunes.  For us, it was low tide and we were able to continue the drive along the coast all the way to Sandwich Harbour.  Once there, John turned straight towards a massive dune.  Up we went for a beautiful view of the sea below.  At the top, we got out of the 4×4 and had a chance to walk along the edge of the dunes.  It was incredible to be alone with empty dunes all around.

After leaving the overlook, the dune driving continued.  This was definitely the most fun part of the tour.  I was amazed that we were able to navigate some of the massive dunes.  Later on, John noticed some Oryx tracks.  Despite his tracking skills, they had gone too far into the Namib Desert for us to follow them.  However, stopping for lunch we did get have a close encounter with a Black-backed Jackal!  He was quite interested in the lunch we were provided and I was able to get some great pictures!

If you’re nearby Walvis Bay, I wouldn’t miss out on this experience.  There are few places in the world where such massive dunes reach the sea’s edge.  I do think you’d be missing out if you were to skip it.  While many tours can be quite expensive, this one was very reasonably priced and won’t bust your budget.  Not only that but the history John was able to tell helped us to have a much better understanding of the country.  While the wildlife may be the primary reason to visit Namibia, seeing the Skeleton Coast is a once in a lifetime experience.