National Parks

In 2010 the National West Coast Tourism Recreation Area and the Walvis Bay Enclave were combined to form Dorob National Park. Following Namibia’s independence, the enclave of Walvis Bay remained South African territory until 1994, when it was integrated into Namibia.

As a coastal park, Dorob includes several ephemeral river estuaries as well as shipwrecks, both ancient and modern. The park includes the Walvis Bay Lagoon – an important Ramsar site famous for flamingoes and other sea birds, and the Cape Cross Seal Reserve.

Location: West coast on Namibia, linking the Skeleton Coast to the north and the Sperrgebiet to the south.

Vegetation: Lichen fields and other desert flora.

Wildlife: Namibia’s richest coastal area for birds, with 75 species and nearly 1.6 million birds recorded on the coast. The Damara tern, (Sternula balaenarum), is endemic to Namibia and considered a flagship species of the coastal area is found in the park.

Coastal waters are some of the richest fishing grounds in the world, due mainly to the cold Benguela Current, which flows northwards from the Antarctic. It is exceptionally high in quantities of plankton, which accounts for the abundance of anchovies, pilchards, mackerel and other white fish.

Whales and dolphins are to be seen, and seals, especially at the Cape Cross Seal Reserve. Black backed jackal may also be spotted on the beaches.

Tourism: Dorob is a multi-use park with recreational areas, and line fishing is very popular, particularly for Cabeljau. Concerns have been raised about off-road 4x4 driving and quad biking, which can damage the fragile flora and Damara tern nests.