Essentials
- City
- Walvis Bay, Erongo Region, Namibia
- Population
- 132,000
- Internet Speed
- 15-40 Mbps (Fiber available via Paratus or Telecom Namibia)
- Currency & Banking
- Namibian Dollar (NAD), pegged 1:1 to South African Rand. 1 USD ≈ 19.10 NAD
- Tap Water
- Generally safe to drink, though many prefer filtered or bottled water due to high mineral content
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type M and Type D sockets
- SIM Card
- MTC Namibia (Aweh plans approx. 100 NAD/week) or TN Mobile
- Banking for Expats
- Standard Bank Namibia, FNB Namibia, Nedbank. Cards widely accepted via 'Swipe'
- Accommodation
- Short-term via Airbnb, long-term via private rentals in Lagoon or Meersig
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards (Visa/Mastercard) accepted in almost all shops and petrol stations
- Short Term Rentals
- Langstrand (Long Beach) apartments or Guesthouses in the Lagoon area
- Budget Accommodation
- Loubser's B&B (approx. 700 NAD/night), California & Danko (approx. 600 NAD/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Lagoon (Esplanade) for flamingo sightings and walking distance to cafes
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Meersig or Langstrand; quieter residential areas with stable infrastructure
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Regus (at The Dunes Mall) or informal working at The Raft (Lagoon)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Godenbohn Coffee Roasters (7th Street) - excellent Wi-Fi and artisan coffee
- Networking Events
- Walvis Bay Chamber of Commerce & Industry monthly business meetings
- Social Events for Expats
- Walvis Bay Yacht Club social nights and the 'Walvis Bay Expats' Facebook community
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- LEFA (Namibia's version of Uber) or local 'Call-a-Cab' services
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Fat Bike La Rochelle (Guided tours and rentals starting at 450 NAD)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Langstrand (Long Beach) located halfway between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Connect Namibia (FlyNamibia) flying to Windhoek Eros
- Top International Airline
- Eurowings Discover (Lufthansa Group) or Ethiopian Airlines via Windhoek
- Highway Access
- B2 Highway (Trans-Kalahari) connects to Swakopmund and Windhoek
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Walvis Bay Railway Station (mostly freight and Desert Express luxury train)
- Public Transport Passes
- No formal card system; shared 'yellow' taxis operate on flat fees (approx. 15-20 NAD per trip)
- Regional Travel
- Intercape Mainliner bus service to Windhoek or Cape Town
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Welwitschia Hospital (Private, 24-hour emergency care)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Studio (Lagoon area) and various wellness spas at the Protea Hotel
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- The Dome (Swakopmund, 30 mins away) or Walvis Bay Gym (136 Theo Ben Gurirab St)
- Laundry Services
- Sparkle Laundry at The Dunes Mall
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Dial-a-Meal (local service via phone/web) or To-Go Namibia
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Fresh Walvis Bay Oysters and Kabeljou (Cob) fish
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Lemon Tree Restaurant (Offers plant-based wraps and salads)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Slowtown Coffee Roasters (for pastries) and The Raft (for chocolate lava cake)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- The Dunes Mall (Checkers and Woolworths Food)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Bob Shop (formerly Bidorbuy) and Namkart
- Grocery Delivery
- Checkers Sixty60 (Available at The Dunes Mall branch)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Waterfront area (Cuppies, Anchors @ the Jetty)
- Local Brewery
- Namibia Breweries Limited (Windhoek Lager/Draught available everywhere)
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Bar & Shop (at Avani or nearby Swakopmund boutique hotels)
- Street Food Stalls
- Kuisebmund Market (Braai meat and Kapana)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Lyon des Sables (French-influenced seafood at the Waterfront)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Pelican Point Lighthouse and the Walvis Bay Lagoon Flamingos
- Museums & Art Venues
- Walvis Bay Local Museum (Civic Centre, 14th Road)
- Historical Sites
- Rhenish Mission Church (Oldest building in town, 1880)
- Religious Sites
- Immanuel Rhenish Mission Church
- Annual Events
- Walvis Bay Salt Refiners Coastal 4x4 Festival (Easter weekend)
- Cultural Districts
- Kuisebmund (Dynamic local culture and vibrant markets)
- Theater Venues
- Walvis Bay Civic Centre Town Hall (occasional community plays)
- Local Markets
- Dunes Mall Weekend Craft Market
- Music Scene
- Live acoustic sets at The Raft or Yacht Club
- Street Art
- Murals around the Port Authority and school walls in Narraville
- Cooking Classes
- Silverspoon Hospitality Academy (nearby in Windhoek, intermittent workshops in WB)
- Art Galleries
- Woermannhaus Art Gallery (nearby Swakopmund)
- Historic Buildings
- Pelican Point Lighthouse (built 1932)
- Local Heritage
- The Topnaar People heritage sites along the Kuiseb River
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sandwich Harbour (Where dunes meet the ocean)
- National Parks Nearby
- Dorob National Park and Namib-Naukluft Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The Lagoon Promenade (5km paved walkway)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Dune 7 (Highest dune in the area, 10km from town)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Salt Works and the Ramseur site lagoon (30,000+ flamingos)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Dolfynstrand designated braai and fire pits
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- NamPost or DHL International (6th Street)
- Tech Repair Services
- Namsol Tech Support (Theo Ben Gurirab St)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Walvis Bay Multi-Purpose Community Centre
- Language Classes
- Goethe-Institut (Windhoek based, offering online German/English/Oshiwambo)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Walvis Bay Public Library (Nangolo Mbumba Drive)
- Community Centers
- Narraville Community Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- The Dunes Mall Gaming Zone
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Mermaid Casino (at Swakopmund Entertainment Centre, 30km away)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 18,000 NAD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 720,000 NAD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 14,000 NAD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 560,000 NAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 16,500 NAD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 990,000 NAD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 13,000 NAD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 780,000 NAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 15,000 NAD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,200,000 NAD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 12,000 NAD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 960,000 NAD)
- Corporate Tax
- 31% (standard rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Source-based tax system
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (over 1.5M NAD)
- VAT
- 15%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules, but anti-avoidance measures exist
- Property Tax
- Yes, monthly rates and taxes paid to Walvis Bay Municipality based on land/improvement value
- Property Transaction Tax
- Transfer duty on a sliding scale (up to 8% for properties over 2M NAD)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Namibia Digital Nomad Visa available (valid for 6 months, requires $2,000 USD monthly income)