Walvis Bay is a lively Port and Namibia’s second largest City, which is protected from wind and waves by the long arm of Pelican Point (SHOWN IN PICTURE). With a tidal lagoon filled with seabirds and flamingos, and a nearby seal colony, Walvis Bay is a top spot for nature lovers and animal enthusiasts. Things to do here include kayaking past seals, surfing down dramatic sand dunes, and dining on fresh seafood. While less tourist-centred than nearby Swakopmund, there are still plenty of tour operators and accommodation options.
Walvis Bay is not part of South Africa, it is a City in Namibia that serves as the primary deep-water Port! It was an enclave under South African control for 84 years but South Africa formally transferred sovereignty over Walvis Bay and the offshore Penguin Islands to Namibia on March 1, 1994. This followed in the wake of bilateral discussions lasting three years between the South African and Namibian government. This led to the establishment of a transitional Joint Administrative Authority (JAA) in November 1992 to administer the 300 square mile territory. The amicable resolution to this territorial dispute, which stretched back to 1878, was commended by the United Nations and the international community as it fulfilled the provisions of UN Security Council 432 (1978), which declared Walvis Bay to be an integral part of Namibia.
