Walvis Bay is situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, has a relaxed atmosphere, and is protected by Pelican Point sand spit from strong ocean currents.
The bay is rich in plankton and marine life, which in turn, historically, attracted large numbers of southern right whales, hence its name, which comes from the Afrikaans, meaning ‘Whale Bay’. Boat trips from Walvis Bay can be rewarding as it is possible to see a number of cetacean species, including Heaviside’s dolphin, and even Cape fur seals.
Because of its strategic location on the sea route to the Cape of Good Hope, Walvis Bay has been occupied at various times by a succession of colonists, including the British during the 19th century ‘Scramble for Africa’.
Walvis Bay is one of the driest cities on Earth – it has a very rare climate which is classified as ‘cold desert’ and receives only 13.2 millimetres of precipitation a year.
