WALVIS BAY, NAMIBIA – APRIL 7TH

According to the information provided by Princess, Walvis Bay possesses the finest harbor on the Namib coast.  That fact led to its annexation by the British in 1878, who added it to their enclave in South Africa.  It was not until 1994 that the now-Republic of South Africa returned Walvis Bay to Namibia.  The port is the gateway to the Namib Desert, one of the oldest and harshest deserts on Earth, and to the old German town of Swakopmund, a legacy of that distant era when Namibia was a German colony named Sudwest Afrika.  Walvis Bay perches on the edge of the great Namib Desert, a landscape of extraordinary beauty with its immense dunes, moonscapes and salt sinks. 

Having gone out yesterday to get our Namibia magnet, we chose not to go anywhere in Walvis Bay.  There was no easy shuttle ride to the closest town although many of our fellow passengers seemed to enjoy the available dune adventures. 

Michael took a few pictures from the ship but, all in all, I doubt they’re of any interest to anyone other than the amount of salt that is mined and processed in Namibia.  

Namibian Immigration required all guests to attend a face-to-passport inspection between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. prior to our departure from Namibia. 

MICHAEL’S OBSERVATIONS:   While many of the guests on the ship find it important to participate in one of the many excursions available in every port, I, like Leona, find the ship to be my destination with few exceptions, those being Komodo Island, Kuala Lumpur, Shamwari Game Reserve and South Africa.  The main type of activity available in this port was the sand dune buggy rides.  At my age, I don’t really need to jar my old bones.  I had a wonderful sand dune ride in Dubai some years ago and still re-live the wonderful experience in my memory.  So, I never feel compelled to participate in an excursion at every port.