"walvisbaai" a Walvisbaai Travel Page by mvtouring

It was with great anticipation that our plane landed in the Namib desert at the Walvisbaai airport. I was a bit worried thinking that we had landed in the desert, when my sister assured me that the airport was actually in the dessert. I was amazed to see the rare beauty and windswept dunes, stark landscapes and jagged coastlines from the plane.
Walvis Bay is situated on the south west coast of Africa at the edge of the Namib desert and is Namibia's principal port and growth centre. It is rich in natural resources and its strategic location provide the basis for tourism and industrial development.
The municipal area covers 1124 km square and boasts 60 km of Atlantic coastline. On the landward side, Walvis Bay is enclosed by 23 000 square km of conservation area that includes high dunes, wetlands and the Kuiseb River delta.
Walvis Bay's population of 55 000 people composed of a variety of ethnic groups of different religious and cultural backgrounds, and together they lend Walvis Bay a cosmopolitan appeal. There is no feeling of being a tourist in Walvis Bay, owing to the distinct blend of different cultures.

Walvis Bay, (pronounced Walfish Bay) meaning "Whale Bay" in Afrikaans, has had a chequered history. The bay has been a haven for sea vessels because of its natural deep water harbour. Being also rich in plankton and marine life, it drew large number of whales. This attracted whalers and fishing vessels. A succession of colonists have exploited the location and resources of this strategic harbour settlement. The harbour has caught the attention of world powers since it was discovered.