Pelican Point is home to one of the largest Cape fur seal colonies on the Namibian coast, hauled out along the sandbank beneath the Pelican Point lighthouse It’s the single most consistent wildlife sighting on our tours; seals are present here year-round, and on kayak trips in particular, they’ll often swim right up alongside you out of curiosity.
Life in the colony
Cape fur seals are highly social animals, and the colony at Pelican Point is a constant scene of activity: seals resting on the sand, others porpoising through the shallows, and younger seals playing in the surf. They’re strong swimmers and naturally curious, which is exactly why kayakers so often find themselves with an uninvited seal escort circling their boat.
About Cape fur seals
For the full species profile (diet, behaviour, breeding season), see our Cape fur seals guide.
How to see the colony
By boat: any catamaran cruise passes directly by the colony; see our boat tours guide.
By kayak: the closest, most immersive way to experience the seals. See our kayaking with seals guide or book directly:
(any of these can be combined with our Beach Braai (BBQ)
A note on wildlife etiquette
These are wild animals, not performers: our guides keep a respectful distance and let curious seals approach on their own terms rather than the other way around. This tends to produce the best encounters anyway, since seals that feel crowded simply swim off.
Frequently asked questions
How many seals are at the colony?
Numbers vary through the year, but it’s consistently one of the larger colonies on this stretch of coast; expect to see hundreds on a typical visit.
Is it safe to kayak near the seals?
Yes, with a guide. Seals here are accustomed to boats and kayaks and are generally curious rather than aggressive.
Ready to book?
Three decades of catamaran cruises on the bay, kayaking among the seals at Pelican Point and 4x4 trips through the dunes to Sandwich Harbour, under the wide-open Namib sky, with a Walvis Bay crew who know every tide and wind on this coast.