All Parks
parkDetail.group Erongo

Sandwich Harbour

Where towering Namib dunes cascade into the Atlantic, creating one of southern Africa's most important wetlands and a landscape of extraordinary beauty.

Best Time:Year-round; best March to November
Recommended Stay:1 day (day trip from Walvis Bay)
Vehicle:4x4 essential; experienced driver or guided tour required

Overview

About This Park

Sandwich Harbour is a tidal lagoon and wetland approximately 50 km south of Walvis Bay, nestled within the Namib-Naukluft Park. It is a Ramsar-designated wetland of international importance, where the towering dunes of the Namib Desert meet the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The area supports an extraordinary concentration of birdlife and marine species.

Heritage

parkDetail.historyConservation

Once a small whaling and fishing station, Sandwich Harbour was named after the whaler vessel that frequented the bay. The harbour silted up in the 1930s, and the area was incorporated into the Namib-Naukluft Park. It was designated a Ramsar Wetland Site in 1995, recognising its global significance for migratory and resident bird populations.

Highlights

parkDetail.whatMakesUnique

  • Ramsar Wetland of international importance
  • Towering dunes meeting the Atlantic Ocean
  • One of southern Africa's richest bird habitats
  • Tidal lagoon accessible only by 4x4
  • Part of the greater Namib-Naukluft Park

Our Perspective

The Grow Namibia View

Sandwich Harbour is raw, untouched, and humbling. The scale of the dunes against the sea is unlike anything else on the continent. This is not a place you visit casually — it demands respect, preparation, and a willingness to be moved.

Practical

Visitor Information

Gate Hours

Sunrise – Sunset (tidal)

Road Conditions

Beach driving only; tidal access — must time with low tide

Facilities

None on-site; Walvis Bay is the nearest base

Accessibility

Challenging — 4x4 only

parkDetail.officialFeeSchedule

parkDetail.officialFeeDesc

parkDetail.viewOfficialDoc View Sample Permit Template

Fee Schedule Update

Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism

In accordance with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), revised park entrance and conservation fees will come into effect from 1 April 2026.

The updated fees follow the public consultation process concluded by MEFT and are in line with the official Ministerial Guidelines. All permits issued through our platform will automatically reflect the new rates from the effective date.

What this means for you

  • •Orders placed before 1 April 2026 will be charged at current rates
  • •Orders placed from 1 April 2026 will reflect the new MEFT fee schedule
  • •No action is required on your part — rates update automatically