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For other destinations and types of holiday, visit Kuoni
For other destinations and types of holiday, visit Kuoni 

Things to do in Namibia

Encounter marine life on a Walvis Bay catamaran cruise

Walvis Bay is a haven for pelagic birds and the marine Big Five: whales, dolphins, mola mola, leatherback turtles and seals…

By Theunis Keulder
Owner of Catamaran Cruises

Experience Namibia’s diverse marine life on a catamaran cruise of Walvis Bay. Set on the rugged Skeleton Coast, the bay is a haven for pelagic birds and the marine Big Five: whales, dolphins, mola mola, leatherback turtles and seals. We leave early in the morning, sailing out to Pelican Point, which has a striking lighthouse and a colony of around 60,000 Cape fur seals – you can hear them barking as we approach.

From there, we pass oyster farms, huge ships and oil rigs as we sail through the bay. We’ll usually spot bottlenose, dusky and Heaviside’s dolphins jumping through the waves, which everyone loves. If you’re lucky, maybe an albatross will swoop overhead and you’ll catch sight of a turtle or giant mola mola, also known as a sunfish; adults can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms!

Most whale sightings occur between July and the end of October when various species migrate. During that time, we’ll often see whales daily, from southern rights and grays to pygmys and humpbacks. It’s crucial that we respect all the wildlife we encounter, so we follow international regulations, making sure we keep our distance and don’t crowd the animals.

One of the most amazing things I’ve seen is a pod of orcas, which only happens a couple of times a year. Recently, I also saw a pure-white southern right calf with its mother; they’re very rare and only occur in about five percent of the species. Our skippers focus on the educational aspect of the tour and will teach you all about the different animals we meet.

If the wind comes up, we’ll hoist the sails and switch off the engine so you can sit in the sun and enjoy sparkling wine and oysters. Guests love that, especially in summer. We lay out seafood platters with fresh bread, desserts and drinks. Often, pelicans will visit the boat and we’ve even had a seal jump onboard.

Categories

  • Adventure
  • Scenery
  • Trips to take
  • Wildlife

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Alfred & Theunis Keulder

Theunis Keulder has always been intrigued by everything in, under and on the ocean. Born in northern Namibia’s Erongo region, Theunis spent 20 years working for NGOs before changing tack to combine his passion for sailing, marine wildlife and desert adventures in the tourism field. Theunis is the founder of Catamaran Charters, Sandwich Harbour 4x4 and Bogenfels & Diamond Tours in Namibia.
Theunis Keulder, Owner of Catamaran Charters, Namibia

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Contact us and one of our UK team will help shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. Someone like Malcolm who's travelled extensively in Namibia. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - the expert guides who can help you spot rare animals or the fat bike enthusiasts who can take you on a cycling adventure through the Namib Desert. Give us a call, set up and appointment or enquire online to start planning your tailor-made Namibia holiday.

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