Day 95 Walvis Bay, Namibia (Part 2)

Weather
Sunny, mid 70's

Map

What we did

Today we set out on an excursion known as “Dunes and Lagoons,” a journey that quickly proved to be as scenic as it sounds. Our first stop was Flamingo Lagoon, where elegant flocks of flamingos gathered in the shallow water, their soft pink hues glowing against the landscape. They were surprisingly close, offering a perfect view, while pelicans lingered farther in the distance, though we had already enjoyed a much closer encounter with them the day before.

The tour continued on to the Walvis Bay Salt Works. Namibia is a major producer of solar sea salt, and this facility alone produces over a million metric tons each year. The salt ponds were eerily beautiful, shimmering in shades of pink, white, and purple that stretched across the horizon.

Our final stop was Dune 7 in the Namib Desert, which rises to about 1,250 feet above sea level. Amy made her way up most of the dune, earning sweeping views from above. The sand was warm underfoot and soft enough that each step sank in more than expected. The descent, however, was pure fun. Some people chose to slide down, but that was a bit too much sand for Amy’s liking.

Once we returned to the ship, we had to go through customs again. Fortunately, we had started a load of laundry before heading out to be processed, since the facilities were closed the following day due to illness on board. That evening, the sunset was spectacular. We usually try not to share too many sunrise or sunset moments, but this one felt too special to leave out.