The engine starts. You press the throttle. Sand flies up behind you.
You are on a quad bike in the middle of the Namib Desert.
You go up a dune. At the top, you see nothing but sand and sky. You come down the other side fast. The sand is soft. It feels like riding on a giant cushion. You laugh. You cannot help it.
This is the first part of the Sandwich Harbour and quad biking tour.
Quad Biking in the Namib Desert
The riding takes place on dunes near Walvis Bay. These dunes are not inside the national park. They are open riding areas made for this activity. Your guide gives you a helmet and goggles. They show you how to ride. They explain the safety rules.
You do not need to know how to ride a quad bike before this tour. The guide teaches you. Most people pick it up very quickly. The sand is slow and soft, so it is easier to control than riding on a road.
Beginners ride on smaller dunes. People who are more confident go bigger. There is no pressure. The guide watches everyone and keeps things safe.
The riding session usually happens in the morning or early afternoon. After riding, everyone is a bit tired, a bit sandy, and very happy.
Then Comes Sandwich Harbour
After the quad biking, you get cleaned up and jump into a 4×4. Your guide drives you south to Sandwich Harbour. The drive takes about 45 minutes.
Sandwich Harbour is very different from the riding dunes. It is quiet. It is huge. The dunes rise over 100 metres and go straight down to the Atlantic Ocean. The lagoon below is full of flamingos and pelicans.
After the noise and speed of the quad bikes, the silence of Sandwich Harbour hits you. In a good way.
You stop at viewpoints. You walk on the sand. You look down at the ocean. Your guide explains how this rare place was formed and why it is protected.
What to Know Before You Book
No experience needed. Check age and weight limits with your operator. Wear comfortable clothes. Closed shoes are best. Best time to go is May to October.
If learning about the history of this coastline interests you, the Sandwich Harbour and Shipwrecks Tour tells the story of ships that never made it home.