WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA
Our next stop in Namibia after Luderitz was Walvis Bay. It is about 600 miles north of Luderitz on the Atlantic coast. It too is a former colony of Germany and later a territory of South Africa. It gained its independence from South Africa in 1990. The population of Namibia is about 2 million people in a space twice the size of California and it is rated as one of the planet’s most sparsely populated nations.
Walvis Bay is a beautiful, clean city in a desert environment with a rich German and British background. A natural attraction are the renown sand dunes of the Nambid Desert. They are more than 400 miles long and up to 600 feet high. Quad-biking (ATV’s) and sand boarding are popular sports here. There are breath-taking white beaches and a lagoon south of town is the habitat for flamingos, pelicans and many other forms of marine life. Exotic animals like zebras, giraffes and ostriches can be seen calmly grazing along the roadside.
Next to mining, tourism is the second most lucrative industry in Namibia. In 2006 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt chose Walvis Bay as a secluded spot for the birth of their daughter and this has boosted tourism.
My ride on Dune 7 as a passenger on an ATV was one of my most exciting experiences here. Riding through the sand dunes was almost like skiing on fresh snow. There was so much to do and see but not enough time. I hope I can return some day to spend more time in this amazing country.
Our next stop in Namibia after Luderitz was Walvis Bay. It is about 600 miles north of Luderitz on the Atlantic coast. It too is a former colony of Germany and later a territory of South Africa. It gained its independence from South Africa in 1990. The population of Namibia is about 2 million people in a space twice the size of California and it is rated as one of the planet’s most sparsely populated nations.
Walvis Bay is a beautiful, clean city in a desert environment with a rich German and British background. A natural attraction are the renown sand dunes of the Nambid Desert. They are more than 400 miles long and up to 600 feet high. Quad-biking (ATV’s) and sand boarding are popular sports here. There are breath-taking white beaches and a lagoon south of town is the habitat for flamingos, pelicans and many other forms of marine life. Exotic animals like zebras, giraffes and ostriches can be seen calmly grazing along the roadside.
Next to mining, tourism is the second most lucrative industry in Namibia. In 2006 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt chose Walvis Bay as a secluded spot for the birth of their daughter and this has boosted tourism.
My ride on Dune 7 as a passenger on an ATV was one of my most exciting experiences here. Riding through the sand dunes was almost like skiing on fresh snow. There was so much to do and see but not enough time. I hope I can return some day to spend more time in this amazing country.
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