The Walvis Bay Lagoon is a Ramsar wetland of international importance and the most significant coastal bird habitat on the Atlantic coast of Africa south of the equator. The shallow, warm, saline water between the harbour breakwater and the open ocean supports extraordinary concentrations of waterbirds year-round, with flamingo numbers alone reaching 50,000 individuals at peak season.
The Ecology
The lagoon’s productivity is driven by the Benguela Current upwelling that brings cold, nutrient-rich water to the Namibian coast. The nutrients feed the blue-green algae and brine shrimp that are the primary food source for flamingo; the same conditions support massive populations of small fish that sustain the pelican and cormorant populations.
The lagoon is relatively shallow, rarely exceeding two metres, and covers approximately 45,000 hectares of protected water between the harbour and the Pelican Point spit. The temperature and salinity gradient from the harbour mouth to the southern end creates different microhabitats that different species exploit: flamingo feed in the saline shallows; pelicans concentrate near fish runs in the deeper channels; wading birds work the mud margins.
Flamingo
Both greater and lesser flamingo are present year-round. Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) are the larger, paler species with a distinctive downturned pink and black bill; lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) are smaller and deeper pink, with a darker bill. In the lagoon, the two species are often mixed, and the comparison between them is straightforward once you have the key identification features.
Peak numbers (up to 50,000) occur between January and March. Year-round numbers are lower but still substantial; on any visit, hundreds to thousands of flamingo are visible from the lagoon road.
Viewing points: The lagoon road (D1982) runs along the eastern lagoon margin and provides good drive-by viewing at multiple points. The best shore access is at the lagoon’s northern end near the salt works.
Cape Pelican
The Cape pelican (Pelecanus capensis) is one of the lagoon’s most impressive residents. Adult birds weigh up to 13kg and have a wingspan of up to 2.5 metres. They feed cooperatively, herding schools of fish into shallow water and plunge-dipping in coordinated groups. The spectacle of 200 pelicans working a fish school in the lagoon channel is one of the less-photographed but most dramatic wildlife events on the Namibian coast.
Wading Birds (Palaearctic Migrants)
From September to April, the lagoon receives thousands of Palaearctic migrant wading birds that have flown from their breeding grounds in Europe and Asia. Species recorded include curlew sandpiper, little stint, grey plover, whimbrel, bar-tailed godwit, and turnstone. The lagoon margins at low tide, with birds feeding intensively before the water returns, are one of the best shorebird spectacles in Africa.
Best viewing: A spotting scope is useful for distant birds; many species are approachable to within 20 metres at quiet sections of the lagoon margin.
Access Options
By road: The D1982 runs along the eastern lagoon margin from Walvis Bay; most flamingo flocks are visible from the road. Drive slowly and use the vehicle as a hide.
By kayak: Kayaking with seals covers the harbour mouth seal colony and the inner lagoon; flamingo are visible from water level on most paddling routes.
By catamaran: The catamaran cruise provides a 2.5-hour lagoon tour covering all key species.
By boat (dedicated birding): Some operators offer specialised birding boat trips that approach flamingo flocks and wading bird areas at low tide more closely than the standard tours.
See also: Walvis Bay oysters | Whale watching off Walvis Bay