Top Things to do in Erongo Region
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Things to do in Erongo Region, Erongo Region: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas
Discover the best top things to do in Erongo Region, Namibia including Gobabeb Desert Research Station, Cape Cross, Dune 7, Flamingo lagoon, Welwitschia Plains, Snake Park.
Restaurants in Erongo Region
1. Gobabeb Desert Research Station
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
Gobabeb Research station is a wonderful place for nature enthusiasts who prefer not to be surrounded by other tourists. Although remote Gobabeb is not far from Swakopmund and Walvis Bay and offers free and easy access to the dunes. Uniquely situated among three ecosystems (the Kuiseb River, the Namib Sand Sea and the vast gravel plains) Gobabeb provides days of exploration and hiking opportunities. With a wide range of accommodation options, swimming facilities and braai facilities Gobabeb is unique in that it also offers tours around the dunes, the Station itself and several night time activities, including Star talks and Scorpion Hunts. The centre is a research station and as such there are tours aimed at adaptations of the Namib and up to date with current research occurring on site. The centre is tourist and family-friendly, offering catering, accommodation and amazing scenery.
2. Cape Cross
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 383 reviews
Reviewed By Brittany_11_10 - Los Angeles, United States
If you're looking to experience nature truly at its rawest, Cape Cross Seal Reserve is your place. If you're squeamish or dislike the smell, the sight, or even the idea of death, the reserve is not your place. Cape Cross Seal Reserve is home to tens of thousands of cape fur seals--mamas giving birth, pups being crushed, males and females mating, males fighting each other--and depending on what time of year you're there, you can see (and smell) a massive amount of death. Death is not pretty, and it doesn't smell good. In fact, it smells vile, and my scarf-turned-mask reeked for the next 12 hours until I could thoroughly wash it. That said, that's how nature works. If you read the placards in the reception house, or the one-page brochure also available at reception, you will learn that the seals here have mostly achieved homeostasis. The only threat, not surprisingly, is humans. Otherwise, the seals live this way and it's normal, natural, and exactly how it should be. To that point, I disagree with the reviewers who think the reserve should be better maintained. For example, to the reviewer who thinks the walkway should be hosed off every day, yes, that would be nice for the human visitors, but how annoying for the seals. They live, play, fight, and nap under and next to the walkway, so hosing it down every day would disturb their lives more than we humans already do just by walking on it (and yes, I know I'm guilty of intruding on their home turf, but I try to be as minimally invasive as possible, and I prefer to keep nature like this as natural as possible). This is a wildlife reserve, not a zoo. These animals are wild, and they live--and die--according to nature. If you don't want to see that, then don't go. If you want to go to a place with freshly hosed walkways, go to a zoo (and then complain, no doubt, about this mistreatment of the animals there, and how they're kept in little cages and aquariums and the like). And to the reviewers who complain about a lack of information and/or guides, I'm willing to bet that a) you didn't read the placards at reception and/or take the paper at reception that has a good deal of information about the seals, and b) you have a smartphone with Googling capabilities. Do you really want to stand around reading signs in this place you think is so horrible and smelly and unmaintained? While the animal lover in me was sad to see so many dead seal pups--and the nose-breather in me was somewhat horrified to smell that amount of death--the wildlife lover in me thought it was an incredibly raw, unique, and interesting experience. We even saw a pup seconds after it was born, three gulls fighting over the placenta, and mama nursing newborn and fending off nosy neighbors. Pretty unforgettable, I'd say. (We also saw a jackal lingering nearby).
3. Dune 7
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 259 reviews
Reviewed By Ochieng1974
The Dune 7 in Walvis Bay , Namibia is a wonder. The expansive swathed of high sand dunes just adjacent and parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coastline is a convergrnce of two extremes -the Atlantic Ocean and the Namib Desert. The two ecosystems create a cool environment under an otherwise scorching desert sun. Climbing the dune to the peak is no mean task, but watching 7 year olds do it clearly is an inspiration to try, soldier on and conquer .. I did. I met friends from Iceland at the peak. Yes, people from Iceland at the peak of a Namib desert dune! It was an experience to behold. There is no need at all to use any travel agent for this adventure. The Dune 7 is straight forward. Drive yourself there or simply take taxi. No fee is charged at the site .. Namibian Govt is clearly leaving money on the table. However next to the Dune 7 is the Dune 7 adventure.The only facility at the site where one can enjoy very good meals and cold drinks, catch up with friends via free WiFi.. take a shower , do quad bike rides to the expansive desert and the dunes. This is no doubt , the Namibia's ' great pyramids'.
4. Flamingo lagoon
5. Welwitschia Plains
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 403 reviews
Reviewed By 15matjan - Tona, Spain
First of all must get your permit from NWR office, Bismarck street in Swakopmund and self-drive through the desert: lichen fields, moon landscapes, remains of a 19th century war camp, ostriches and the amazing Welwitschias and other desert adapted plants.Interesting experience.
6. Snake Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 81 reviews
Reviewed By Mot_Kiwi - Kenepuru Sound, New Zealand
Had a great time looking at the various snakes, lizards, tortoise, and terrapin. The owners were very friendly, knowledgeable and were more than happy to share such information. One of the pythons were shedding while we were there and with a little help, changed from a rather shabby, pre shed snake, to the most beautiful iridescent creature. Quite stunning. We were also shown how docile the black mamba really is as the owner picked up the snake and handled it in a very relaxed manner. There were newly hatched terrapins and chameleons hatching. All in all a great experience.
