Is Seal Kayaking in Swakopmund Worth It? My Honest Review + Essential Tips
We spent close to three weeks road tripping through Namibia, from exploring the epic sand dunes of Sossusvlei, stargazing in Spitzkoppe, to chasing the big 5 in the iconic Etosha National Park. At this point, Namibia had already wowed us completely with its deserts and safaris, but we definitely didn’t expect it to also offer a completely different kind of adventure: kayaking with seals in Swakopmund.
To be honest, we weren’t initially excited about visiting Swakopmund since since it felt a bit too city and industrial for our taste, but it turned out to be an incredibly memorable stay filled with exciting experiences. From visiting Sandwich harbour where the massive sand dunes meet the ocean, skydiving in the desert, to kayaking with seals, Swakopmund is filled with adrenaline-packed activities. So naturally, you might be wondering if Kayaking with seals is actually worth it? After doing a ton of research and then experiencing it firsthand, we are excited to share our honest review, answer some of the most frequently asked questions, and also provide essential tips to make your experience stress-free!
Side note: we even got to help rescue a baby seal tangled in a fishing line, and we’ll tell you all about that later!
This is the Tour we did and would 100% recommend! Make sure to book at least 3-7 days ahead as spots fill up fast! We almost missed out on doing this tour!
Is Seal Kayaking in Swakopmund Worth It?
Short on time and want just the TLDR answer? Yes, Seal kayaking in Swakopmund was 100% worth it and even exceeded our expectations.
This was one of the most unique experiences we had in Namibia, letting us interact up close with these playful seals, and was done in an ethical and eco-conscious manner.
If you’re ready for an unforgettable adventure, go ahead and book the same tour we did. And make sure to Book in advance! spots fill up fast and we were this close to missing our chance at joining the tour!
If ever they are not available, then we would recommend checking out this Seal Kayaking tour with Pelican Point Kayaking.
Seal Kayaking in Swalopmund: Tour Overview
- Tour Name: Half Day Original Seal Kayak Adventure
- Duration: 4.5 Hours
- Starting Time: 8:00am
- Starting Point: Walvis Bay (45 minutes from Swakopmund)
- Highlights: Kayaking into a seal colony of over 60,000, getting to interact with them, seeing all the wildlife including flamingos and jackals
- Price: Check Price and Availability Here
My Honest Review: Seal Kayaking in Swakopmund
Kayaking with seals was one of our favourite experiences in Swakopmund and easily one of the highlights of our entire Namibia trip. In my full honest review, we’ll break down the our experience with the tour across several key aspects to help you decide if it’s the right adventure for you.
The Experience of Kayaking with Seals
The most important part of the experience was, of course, being around the seals, and this tour completely exceeded our expectations. We have done wildlife kayaking tours before, where we get to stay near the animals, but never before have we had the chance to truly interact from up close with seals.
On this tour, we kayaked right into the heart of the seal colony and, with our paddles and underwater cameras, even got to play with the curious seal pups. Seals are like the puppies of the ocean. They’re playful, inquisitive, and love to interact with others.
At one point, a seal even hopped onto the back of a fellow paddler’s kayak and lounged there for a good five minutes. Watching these little creatures zoom beneath your kayak, pop their heads out to check you out, and gently nibble on your paddle was easily one of the most adorable wildlife encounters we’ve ever had.
Is the Kayaking with Seals Tour Ethical?
One thing we always consider when joining tours that involve animals is whether they are ethical. We never take part in these elephant riding tours like those in Thailand, or photo ops with wild animals, or any tour where animals are used purely for entertainment purposes. That’s why we were thrilled to see how eco-conscious and ethical this seal kayaking tour is.
The owners of the company are strong advocates for protecting the seal colonies and they ensure that all activities are conducted in a way that minimizes any disturbance or stress on the animals. There were strict guidelines we had to follow to protect the seals, and our activities were always closely monitored to ensure the safety of both the wildlife and ourselves.
At one point, we even spotted a baby seal caught in a fishing line, and one of the guides carefully followed it and helped free it. This is exactly the type of company we love supporting during our travels!
The Scenery and Wildlife you’ll see During the Tour
Okay, our time kayaking in the water with the seals was unforgettable, but what also blew us away was the sheer variety of animals and things you see along the way.
On the drive to Pelican point, we learned about the salt mines, stopped to see one of the largest flamingo colonies, and got a better understanding about the wildlife hierarchy there. We spotted several jackals and learned how they survive almost entirely by scavenging the bodies of seal pups.
Apparently more recently, there were even lions spotted along the skeleton coast, an incredibly unique adaptation from the lions in search of a more reliable food source. You probably won’t see lions yourself, but you can count on seeing everything else.
Why this Tour Exceeded Expectations
By now, it’s pretty obvious that we absolutely loved our Seal Kayaking experience. From the truly unique interactions with the seals to the diversity of wildlife experiences along the way, these were our favourite aspects of this tour:
- Real wildlife interaction: Your get to interact from up close with these seals, playing with them, in a genuinely wild and natural manner.
- Not staged: This is a huge one. Nothing here is staged. The seals swim up to you because they are curious, not because they are trained to or baited.
- Perfect mix of calm and adventure: The entire tour runs at a relaxed pace from start to finish. Even while kayaking, the paddling is light, which lets you focus on the wildlife rather than on working up a sweat.
- Good for all physical levels: This tour is accessible to people of all ages, from little kids to the older adults.
- Great photography opportunities: As a photographer, this was a huge plus for us! usually kayaking always ends up with some less than flattering photos, with the giant lifejackets and crammed space. But here, we loved being able to capture the adorable seal pups from up close, both above and below the water.
- Ethically run company: From start to finish, this tour is run in an ethically-responsible manner with a focus on protecting these amazing seal colonies. This is really important to us as we prioritize supporting tours that respect wildlife and the environment.
➡️ You can check availability for the tour we did here
🧳 Essential Packing List for Namibia – Packing for Namibia is not as simple as throwing a few clothes into a bag. Between the blazing desert heat, freezing desert nights, safari drives in Etosha, and adventure activities in Swakopmund, you will need gear for all kinds of conditions. In this guide we share our complete Namibia packing list and the tips that helped us stay prepared during our trip.
What to Expect on the Seal Kayaking Tour
Below, we’ll walk you through what you’ll see and do on the tour, and give an overview of what to expect from this seal kayaking experience. In total, the tour we did was around 4.5 hours long, starting at 8:00am and ending close to 12:30pm.
Guided Tour vs Self drive Option
We booked our tour only 2-3 days before arriving in Swakopmund and almost missed out, as there were no more spots left. Fortunately, we got in touch with the company directly and they said that we could do a self-drive option and meet them at Pelican point to join in on the kayaking with seals.
The tour is normally run in a fully guided manner, with a ride in their specialized vehicle, which we would recommend if you want all the educational insights during the one-hour drive to Pelican Point. However, we just wanted to point out the Self-drive option in case you accidentally forget to book the tour ahead, like we did, and need a plan B option!
Arrival at Starting Point + Safety briefing
The tour starts at 8:00am and the meeting point is at the parking lot of Dolphins coffee Shop in Walvis Bay. Keep in mind that most travelers, like us, stay in Swakopmund, so you should factor in about a 45-minute drive to get to Walvis Bay.
Once arrived, you’ll have about 20-30 minutes to go to the bathroom (available at the coffee shop), purchasing snacks if needed, and getting a briefing on the activity. At the same time, if you’re doing the self-drive option, the guides will help deflate your tires so you’ll be able to tackle the drive through the soft sand. All the essential kayaking equipment are transported by the team to Pelican point, and will be distributed once you arrive there.
The Drive to Pelican Point (1 Hour)
The drive to Pelican Point takes about an hour and you’ll be making several exciting stops. First, you’ll step out to see one of the best spots for spotting a massive colony of flamingos.
Then you’ll pass the salt mines and make a few quick stops to admire the beautiful pink salt pools. Along the way, you’ll learn about the local wildlife hierarchy and interesting facts about each species. The drive itself is also very exciting as you’ll be off-roading through an endless expanse of soft sand. Coming from Canada, this felt a lot like driving in fluffy snow and was a lot of fun!
Kayaking with the Seals (1 Hour)
Once you arrive at Pelican Point, you’ll hop out of the vehicle and start getting your gear ready for the kayak experience. Other than the essentials of the kayak, paddle, and life jackets, the team will also provide waterproof kayak pants and a light water resistant jacket to keep you dry and warm.
You’ll be spending close to an hour on the water, during which you’ll have plenty of time to interact with the seals. The launch point is right next to the colony, so after just a few minutes of paddling, you’ll already be surrounded by these adorable animals!
When we visited, the water was quite calm at first, but as the morning went on, the wind picked up significantly. Thankfully, we were already wrapping up by the time it got stronger, but the difference between when we got in and when we got out was pretty noticeable.
As mentioned earlier, that hour on the water will be nonstop entertainment as you play with the curious seals and get right up close to them!
Post tour snacks + Visiting the Flamingos on the way back
After getting out of the water, you’ll return your gear and enjoy some hot beverages and snacks. It’s also the perfect time to chat with some of the guides to learn more about the seals or ask any lingering questions you may have!
On the drive back to Walvis Bay, we even made another stop at the flamingo viewpoint since there were way more flamingos in the afternoon.
This post is part of our series about Namibia. If you want to learn more about Namibia, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:
Essential Tips for Seal Kayaking in Swakopmund
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably seriously considering the seal kayaking tour but still have a few final questions before booking. These were all things we wondered about too before we did the tour, so hopefully they’ll help you plan your experience and make the most of it.
Do you need to book in advance?
During high season (June–December), definitely yes!
This is one of the most popular activities in Swakopmund, and we were very close to missing out. We tried booking just two or three days before arriving and there was only one spot left for the self drive option.
All the spaces for the fully guided tour in their vehicle were already taken, so we had to drive ourselves to the bay. Don’t make the same mistake that we did and book ahead of time, ideally close to one week ahead.
Which Seal Kayaking Tour to choose?
There are only about two or three companies that actually run the seal kayaking tours, while many of the options you see online are just third party booking agents.
Of course, we didn’t have a chance to try out the other companies, but given how positive our experience with Eco Marine Tours was, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. They specialize in marine kayak tours, operate ethically, focus on wildlife conservation, and are endlessly entertaining. Honestly, there is nothing we would have changed about the tour!
If ever they are all booked up, you can go with Desert Dunes and Dust Seal Kayaking Tour. We went with this company to do their Sandwich Harbour tour and it was excellent, so we have full trust in the tours they offer!
Related ➡️ Check out our Complete Guide on How to visit Sandwich Harbour, Tour recommendations, and things we wish we knew before going.
Sandwich Harbour
Tons of birds you’ll see
Lunch on the sand dunes
We don’t recommend squeezing both seal kayaking and Sandwich Harbour into the same day. It ends up feeling rushed and you’ll be cutting short on both experiences. Instead, do seal kayaking one morning and Sandwich Harbour on a separate morning so you can fully enjoy both experiences!
What are the sea conditions like?
For the most part, the lagoon is calm with small ripples, and it is not in the open ocean. Sometimes the wind can pick up, but the team keeps a close eye on conditions. There is also very little paddling required to reach the seal colony, so most of your time is spent lightly paddling and interacting with the seals. Because of this, the activity is suitable for people of all ages.
Will you get wet on the tour?
Yes, but only a little bit. You are provided with thick waterproof kayaking pants and a light water resistant jacket so that should help keep you dry.
Is it worth doing the catamaran cruise after seal kayaking?
Another popular experience in Swakopmund is the Catamaran Cruise. Most travelers will choose either the seal kayaking or the catamaran cruise but the experience of each is greatly different.
The catamaran cruise is perfect if you want a comfortable and relaxing way to see marine life without much effort. Also on the cruise, you’ll get to feed pelicans, do oyster tasting, and spot a variety of marine life including seals, dolphins, and sometimes even whales!
Kayaking, on the other hand, is more adventurous and gives you a much closer and more personal interaction with the seals.
If it were me, I would say both are worth doing as they compliment each other!
Can you do Sandwich Harbour + Seal Kayaking in the same day?
Yes, you can do Kayaking with Seals + Sandwich Harbour in one day, but we do not recommend it. Instead, we recommend doing them on separate days to enjoy each experience fully.
We heard from our guide that the combined tour ends up feeling very exhausting, rushed, and you cut short both experiences in order to fit them in one day. Reaching Sandwich Harbour requires a challenging and long drive through sand dunes and the ocean coast, so it makes a lot more sense to have as much time as possible to enjoy the site.
Another thing to keep in mind is the wind. Wind conditions often get stronger later in the day, and combined tours reach Sandwich Harbour in the afternoon when visibility is often lower. On our full day Sandwich Harbour tour, we noticed several vehicles arriving just as we were leaving and by then the conditions were already starting to deteriorate. When the winds are strong, not only will the sand be constantly swept into your face, but it also casts a haze over the stunning views.
Seeing this firsthand really confirmed how much better it is to visit earlier in the day and to dedicate a full separate day to the Sandwich Harbour experience.
➡️ So our recommendation? Book the Kayaking with Seals tour one day, and then the Full-day Sandwich Harbour Tour on a separate day.
Is it beginner friendly? Is it physical?
Yes, kayaking with seals in Swakopmund is extremely beginner friendly. The water is calm, the distance is short, and the kayaks are stable.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Generally yes. We did see other families traveling with their kids (around 7-10 years old) but make sure they understand the safety precautions and never put their hands in the water.
Do seals ever climb into the kayak?
Yes they do. During our kayaking experience, we saw this happen 3-4 times to fellow kayakers. There is nothing dangerous about it, you just let them hangout on the kayak and once they are ready, they will dive back into the water.
What should you wear?
We would recommend wearing quick dry tops, comfortable sport pants, a windbreaker, an insulating layer underweather (fleece or down), and water shoes if you have. The guides will provide you with kayaking pants to keep your lower body dry, and a light water resistant jacket incase you need another layer.
Is it safe to Kayak with Seals in Swakopmund?
Yes. The kayaks are stable, the guides are highly trained, and the lagoon is protected from large waves. The main thing you need to be careful of is never putting your hand in the water. The seals are very curious and they investigate things by biting on it. We played around with them using our paddle and action camera, and several times they tried to bite it.
Other Recommended Things to do in Swakopmund
While you’re in Swakopmund, we highly recommend checking out some of these other activities. We stayed in total 3 days in Swakopmund and got to do a full-day Sandwich Harbour tour, visited the crystal museum to see one of the biggest pieces of Quartz in the world, enjoyed some of the best seafood meals in Namibia, visited the moon landscape, and much more!
A few exciting activities we missed was sky diving in Swakopmund, Desert Dunes Quad biking Tour, and the Living Desert Eco Tour!
📝 If you want more detailed recommendations, make sure to check out our full guide on the best things to do in Swakopmund!
Where to Go After Swakopmund
Next up, after visiting Swakopmund, either head south to see some of the most majestic dunes at Sossuvlei, or North towards Spitzkoppe for otherworldly landscapes and the best stargazing! Finally, head to Namibia’s most famous safari at Etosha National Park!
For more inspiration, check out our guide on the top Bucketlist experiences in Namibia!
Using WISE card in Namibia
When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.
This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.
Recap: Is Kayaking with Seals in Swakopmund Worth it?
If you want a wildlife experience that feels intimate, ethical, and truly special, seal kayaking in Swakopmund is absolutely worth it! We had initially booked it just to have something different to do as compared to chasing the big 5 on land, but it turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences in our trip to Namibia!
You can check availability for the tour we did here:
