Your Guide to Experiencing a Sandwich Harbour 4×4 Tour in Namibia

A Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tour is one of Namibia's most unforgettable adventures, combining the thrill of off-road driving with the breathtaking beauty of the Namib Desert meeting the Atlantic Ocean. This unique destination, located near Walvis Bay, offers towering dunes, dramatic coastlines, and a chance to experience the raw power of nature.

Planning your trip can feel overwhelming, but with the right tips and insights, you can make the most of this incredible journey. From choosing the best tour operators to knowing what to pack and expect, this guide will help you experience Sandwich Harbour like a pro.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of Namibia’s coastal desert and create memories that will last a lifetime!

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A Bit About Sandwich Harbour, Namibia

Before we hop into the details for doing a Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tour, we'd like to share a bit of helpful info and fun facts about Sandwich Harbour, Namibia.

🥪 Why is it Called Sandwich Harbour?

Some sources claim Sandwich Harbour was founded by European sailors, and that there was a commercial port which was based around whaling and small scale fishing during the 19th century.

The name "Sandwich Harbour" likely originates from early European explorers and traders who visited Namibia's coast in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 

There is speculation that the "Sandwich" part of the name may have been influenced by the Earl of Sandwich, a British naval official. However, historical records don't confirm a direct connection, leaving some mystery to the name's exact origins.

⟷ How Long is Sandwich Harbour?

Sandwich Harbour stretches for 4.2 km (2.6 miles).

📍 Where is Sandwich Harbour in Namibia?

Sandwich Harbour is located along the west coast of Central Namibia. Hugging the Atlantic Ocean, Sandwich Harbour is part of Namib-Naukluft National Park, just under 60 km south of Walvis Bay.

Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Tour Prices & Timetables

Before diving into the fun of what a Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tour looks like, we'd like to break down some of the details so you can be plan your visit.

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🕘 When to Do a Sandwich Harbour Tour

Sandwich Harbour tours typically go early in the morning, so you'll want to make sure you plan accordingly! Ours went at 8 am, and you'll find that many go out either around this time, or around noon.

The weather in the area is very particular, and afternoons tend to be really hazy. We were so happy we did an early tour, because by the end of our tour the view was already completely covered by haze!

The park itself is open 24/7, so if you are going on your own or are the only ones on the tour, we'd try to go even earlier (like sunrise) so that you can get the best views, and beat the crowds. We were alone on ours, and if we were to do it again we would certainly have messaged our guide to try and arrange for an earlier time.

🌅 Sunset Tours to Sandwich Harbour

Being that Sandwich Harbour lies on the west coast, it actually has the potential for incredible sunsets! While it's not super common to experience this, if you happen to be visiting when the weather is nice and clear, then we'd also recommend opting for a sunset tour.

We only had one day we could do the tour, and the early tours were the only ones running. That being said, we were super happy with choosing this at the end of the day anyway, since we wouldn't have seen anything for sunset with the awful weather we experienced there.

Here are a couple of Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tours for sunset you can take:

💵 How Much is a Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Tour?

When we first started searching for Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tours, we were in complete shock of how expensive they were in comparison to other activities in Namibia.

Local agencies were charging 2,400 Namibian dollars (around $130 USD), so we actually found that we were able to get a better deal via Get Your Guide! Our guide was a local, and we had an incredible experience despite it being less than half the price.

That being said, after doing the tour we could totally understand a bit more about why they're a bit pricey, particularly because of the insurance needed by guides to run this risky tour. 

Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Tour: The Experience

So are you ready to learn all about the Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tour? We absolutely loved our experience, and definitely think it should be on everyone's Namibia bucket list.

🤝 Meeting Your Guide

Our meet up time was 10 minutes before the tour. We were able to park and leave our car right in the same lot we were meeting at. We met our guide, grabbed our belongings, and were ready to start our epic Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tour.

🧂 Stop at the Salt Mines

The first stop of our Sandwich Harbour 4x4 was at the salt mines over Walvis Bay. First, you'll see a lagoon full of flamingos on your right, which is one of the things that Walvis Bay is most famous for.

Then you'll make a quick stop at the stunning pink waters of the salt mines, and learn a little bit about the massive salt exportation in Namibia.

🌈 Exploring Colorful Sands

Right after the salt mines we started driving right along the sand! Our next stop was a quick stop on the beach, where we were able to see multicolored sand. Look closely at the photos below and you'll be able to see a whole rainbow of sand particles!

🌊 Driving to Along Sandwich Harbor

After driving along the beach for a little, we were able to spot a bunch of wildlife like wild dogs, impala, foxes, and sea lions.

There is also a really eerie part of the tour, with a skull sitting right in the sand!

You'll get to see the official sign of entry for the park, and enjoy scenic views of the dunes along the way, all while experience the Atlantic Ocean waves just on the right of the car.

❤️ Riding the Dunes

Now is for the really fun part! If you like a bit of thrill, then get ready because you're in for a wild ride going up and down the dunes. 

We also stopped and took some photos along the endless mounds of sand.

🔝 The Top Viewpoint

The absolute highlight of the Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tour is being on the very top of the dunes. There is an iconic viewpoint where you can see the dunes on your left, and the ocean on your right.

This is typically the only area you may have tourists, as people line up to get pictures and videos here.

We then had our guide bring us to a calmer spot, so that we could take a little extra content. This isn't traditionally what is done, but our guide was so nice and accommodating!

🍾 Desert Picnic

While we absolutely loved our Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tour, we have to say one of our favorite parts was the very end, where we were served an incredible picnic complete with meats, cheese, and delicious finger food, along with a bottle of champagne.

As we were just two two people, we had the entire bottle for just us, and let's just say we ended the tour on a pretty awesome note.

Just as we started our picnic the wind really picked up, and the entire sky became hazy, so we ate out of the back of the car rather than setting up the table which would have been done given better weather conditions.

🏁 Finishing the Sandwich Harbour 4x4 Tour

After we finished our incredible picnic we started to head back to Walvis Bay. All in all the tour was a fun-filled experience of 4 hours, and we learned so much about Walvis Bay and Namibia's history from our wonderful guide.

Tips for Visiting Sandwich Harbour, Namibia

So are you ready to experience the epic Sandwich Harbour 4x4 tour? Be prepared for an adventure like no other, because it truly is one of the most unique places you can experience in the country,.

Want to see what other fun things there are to see in Namibia? We have a ton of other Namibia travel guides coming up, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for updates on the new articles we have each week.

Ready to start planning your most incredible trip to date? Well, it doesn't have to cost you a ton of time or money to do so. Scratch Your Mapa now offers custom travel planning services, getting you the best flights, and creating you the coolest itinerary possible. Want to learn more? Shoot us an email to set up your free consultation!

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