About this experience
This four hour tour has both a morning (09.00) and afternoon (13.00) departure.
After picking you up at your Swakopmund accommodation, the tour leaves up the coastal road in a northerly direction. Cape Cross is 130 km from Swakopmund and along the route you will stop to marvel at the extensive lichen fields stretching away to the horizon, east of the coastal road.
Another point of interest before you reach the holiday town of Henitiesbay is the “Free Republic of Wlotzka’s Baken”, some 40 km north of Swakopmund. This self-sustaining settlement of wooden cabins and bungalows on the beach is the haven of many a beach angler.
Once past the town of Henitiesbay, the road leads past expansive salt pans where rock salt is mined and refined. Your guide will introduce you to the intricacies of salt crystals and saline algae, which are found in abundance.
At a glance
- Duration: 5 hr
Plan your experience
Set aside 5 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
What is included
- Bottled water
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Snacks
- Refreshments
Not included
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Itinerary and highlights
Cape Cross is situated 53km north of the Atlantic coastal fishing town of Henties Bay. The replica of the original cross, erected by Cão at Cape Cross in 1484, as also the site of the original cross, were declared national monuments on 1st November 1968. The 2nd replica of the padrão does not form part of the proclaimed monument.
Many ships were wrecked on this barren Skeleton Coast over the 400 years after Cão landed. It wasn't until 1884 that the first sightings of Cape fur seals were recorded off the coast of Southern Africa, substantiated by entries into the log book of the German cruise ship, the Möwe. When guano, the waste left by fish-eating birds used as fertilizer, was discovered in 1895, people began to settle in Cape Cross. Guano is an Inca word for a mix of eggshell, feathers, decayed corpses and bird excrement. It became so valuable, that it was called 'white gold' and to this day is harvested from platforms off Namibia's coast.
Cape Cross is situated 53km north of the Atlantic coastal fishing town of Henties Bay. The replica of the original cross, erected by Cão at Cape Cross in 1484, as also the site of the original cross, were declared national monuments on 1st November 1968. The 2nd replica of the padrão does not form part of the proclaimed monument.
Many ships were wrecked on this barren Skeleton Coast over the 400 years after Cão landed. It wasn't until 1884 that the first sightings of Cape fur seals were recorded off the coast of Southern Africa, substantiated by entries into the log book of the German cruise ship, the Möwe. When guano, the waste left by fish-eating birds used as fertilizer, was discovered in 1895, people began to settle in Cape Cross. Guano is an Inca word for a mix of eggshell, feathers, decayed corpses and bird excrement. It became so valuable, that it was called 'white gold' and to this day is harvested from platforms off Namibia's coast.
Meeting and pickup information
- We pick you up from your accommodation
Languages and tickets
- German — Guide
- English — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Explorer Cultural Township Tours in Swakopmund /WalvisBay
Accessibility and practical details
- Wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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