Namibia 2015
Outing 3a: Walvis Bay Dolphin and Seal Boat Trip
The photos on this page were taken by Pat. Alan wrote the text from info from Pat. Extra info supplied by the persons mentioned.
Our bus picked us up at the train around 08:00 for the trip to Walvis Bay. Here we met our guides for the boat trip from Levo Tours. Getting on to the boat was a "walk-the-plank" exercise as shown very adequately at the start of this video clip on the Levo Tours website. The boats used were two engined catamarans.
Walvis Bay: Greater Flamingos and Hartlaub's Gulls from the "plank"
Walvis Bay is the main harbour of Namibia, and as such, is a very busy one. The first part of the tour took us through the harbour.
Walvis Bay: The Normand Installer an ocean going construction ship, also used for cable laying.
Walvis Bay: There were many trawlers in harbour.
Walvis Bay: There was also a ship in dry dock.
Of course, the pelicans know that there are tidbits available if they do their thing! The White Pelican is the one commonly found in Namibia. Any others would be vagrants.
Walvis Bay: Pelicans follow the boat...
Walvis Bay: ...and land hoping for a tidbit.
Walvis Bay: The Eternal Ace a Ro-Ro carrier (roll on, roll off) offloading cargo.
Walvis Bay: An old hull anchored as a roosting site for sea birds to collect guano.
Shortly after passing the old hull, our guide stopped the boat and called the pelicans, who responded rapidly!
Walvis Bay: The pelicans were quick to respond to our guide's calls...
Walvis Bay: ...and were quick to call for their snacks!
Walvis Bay: As were the Kelp Gulls!
A regular visitor to the boat on these tours is this Cape Fur Seal. He also responds to the guide calling for the pelicans.
Walvis Bay: Cape Fur Seal entertaining the tourists.
Walvis Bay: Cape Fur Seal being pampered by our guide.
Walvis Bay: Cape Fur Seal showing off.
Walvis Bay: Kelp Gull showing his displeasure at being ignored!
It was quite an effort to get the seal off the boat to continue with the journey. With him off the boat, our guide sped away at high speed to try and outrun him. Unfortunately, this upset a pelican who was sitting on the canopy. The motion forced him to take off, and with his take off, he crapped on Pat's head - fortunately, she had the hood on her anorak up! The guide stopped the boat to help Pat clean the mess, and of course, this gave the seal the chance to climb back onto the boat! So, the whole process of trying to get him off started afresh.
Walvis Bay: Pelican Point Lighthouse and Lodge.
Walvis Bay: The seal colony on Pelican Point.
Walvis Bay: A pelican posing on a passing boat.
Walvis Bay: An oil drilling rig.
Walvis Bay: A pelican begging on a neighbouring boat.
Walvis Bay: Jellyfish
Walvis Bay: Every time the boat stopped, the gulls would come looking for a snack.
There had been an earlier whale sighting, so our guide took us out to sea to look for it, but unfortunately, it was not to be found. On the way back, we had a school of Dolphins following the boat, but never close enough for pictures. We stopped in the harbour before disembarking for a snack of oysters with a glass of sherry. All in all, a trip well worth the money.
Once back on land, the bus took us back to Swakopmund.
We had a snack at Cafe Anton, where we were due to meet up with Alan and Raymond. [The service at Cafe Anton was not very good.]
Cafe Anton
Photo courtesy Cindy Spies
