Invalid Location.

Walvis Bay:Paddle among seals and dolphins

Known as Benguela, Heaviside"s or Haviside"s dolphins, these fast swimmers were the first named after a Captain Haviside, but after a misspelling as Heaviside"s, the latter name stuck.

Known as Benguela, Heaviside's or Haviside's dolphins, these fast swimmers were the first named after a Captain Haviside, but after a misspelling as Heaviside's, the latter name stuck.

Air Namibia now offers direct flights to Walvis Bay from Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Into the desert
Two hours and you’re in the desert, without having to play car cricket with the children (“Volksie, you’re out!”) on that long road between Keetmanshoop and Mariental.
This means more precious time in Walvis... time to paddle and see some of the coastal wildlife up close. It’s a thrill-a-stroke adventure.

Pick up
Leon Jooste of Namyak Namibia Sea Kayaking picks you up in his 4x4 at 7am – in our case the Vogelstrand Guest Lodge in Swakopmund. Driving in the direction of Walvis Bay, we turn right at the salt works and make our way down to Pelican Point to park near the two fur seal colonies.
Then Leon readies the kayaks (or Namyaks, as he calls them) and shows us the basic techniques: This is how you turn left, and this is how you turn right. The sea is beautifully smooth in the bay and the kayaks are as stable as Switzerland. You needn’t be a Dusi champion and even children under 12 should manage.

Barking hello
Our first destination: the seal colony. As we paddle closer, curious seals break the surface closer and closer to the kayaks until they’re right next to us. Don’t be surprised if one gnaws at a paddle out of curiosity or leap out of the water and splash you. You can get to within a few metres of the breeding area before the bulls start to suspect that you’re after the cows in their harem. They warn us off with loud barks: “Ur-ur, ur-ur”.

A lucky spotting
Leon gets good news on his two-way radio – there are dolphins in the bay. We paddle out into the sea. “There they are!” he shouts and points left.
They’re Benguela dolphins, carving through the water and leaping friskily. Paddle fast enough and you might even find one swimming alongside your kayak.
Tired, wet and happy, we return to the beach an hour-and-a-half later. By 2pm we’re back at the lodge, ready for a well-earned nap.

Fact File

Then Leon readies the kayaks (or Namyaks, as he calls them) and shows us the basic techniques: This is how you turn left, and this is how you turn right.

Come prepared: Just bring yourself and perhaps a change of clothes. You’re issued with a splash-proof jacket and trousers to pull on over your clothes, but you’re going to get wet. You also get a dry bag for your camera.

How much? R490 per person (which is due to change in 2009). This includes the pick-up in a 4x4, the guide’s services, paddling equipment and snacks.
Contact: 00 264 64 40 5448 (Elmari Jooste at Swakop Info); 00 264 81 205 9306;
www.nam-c-yak.com/

Go! says: It may seem like a lot of money for an outing, but it is worth every cent. Forego the Eisbein with Sauerkraut and save for the paddling outing.

Published 16 February 2010

Back to Namibia | Back to destinations | Back to top