Port times at Walvis Bay vary widely, from about five hours to a full day. The number that matters is not when your ship arrives, but how much time you really have between clearing the port and being safely back on board.
Work out your usable time
Start with your ship’s all-aboard time, which is usually 30 to 60 minutes before departure. Then subtract a safety buffer of about an hour, and the time it takes to leave and re-enter the port. Roughly, a nine hour call gives you about six usable hours.
| Time in port | Usable time | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 5 hours | About 2 to 3 hours | Stay local: waterfront, lagoon flamingos, craft market |
| 6 hours | About 4 hours | Half-day wildlife cruise |
| 7 to 9 hours | About 5 to 6 hours | Sandwich Harbour half-day, kayaking, or Swakopmund |
| 10 hours or overnight | A full day | Full-day combination tours |
About 4 to 5 hours in port
Keep it simple and local. Take the shuttle to the gate, then see the waterfront, the flamingos on the lagoon and the salt pans by taxi. See from the cruise terminal to town for how to get around.
About 6 hours in port
This is the sweet spot for a half-day wildlife cruise or a half-day Sandwich Harbour 4×4 tour . The Marine Cruise & Beach Experience and Mola Cruise & Beach BBQ Tour cover seals, dolphins and pelicans.
About 7 to 9 hours in port
Now you have options: this gives enough time to enjoy our premium experience, the Mola Mola Day, the Kayaking Experience with beach BBQ or a trip up to Swakopmund. Read the Sandwich Harbour cruise guide and the Swakopmund guide to choose.
Overnight or 10+ hours
Any of our full day tours or the Golden Hour Sandwich Harbour 4×4 Tour which is the best way to see the dunes in good light.
Frequently asked questions
What if my ship’s port time changes?
Your tour can be adjusted for time changes outside of your control.
Can I do two things in one call?
On a normal day in port, usually not. One well-planned experience beats two rushed ones.
How should I choose between the options?
See our shore excursions overview and the Walvis Bay cruise port guide.
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.