Whale Watching Worldwide

Namibia
Year Number of
whale
watchers
AAGR Number of
operators
Direct
expenditure
Indirect
expenditure
Total
expenditure
1991 None N/A None None None None
1994 None N/A None None None None
1998 7,000 ~143.2% 3 $216,000 $540,000 $756,000
2008 43,675 20% 10 $983,806 $2,104,875 $3,088,681
Capital City: Windhoek
Whale Watch Locations:
01: Walvis Bay
02: Swakopmund
03: Lüderitz
Namibia has ten whale watching operators, all of whom run general
nature trips that include sightings of cetaceans (predominantly
dolphins) and other wildlife, including fur seals, turtles and sunfish.
Humpback and southern right whales are seen opportunistically
between June and October on their annual migration. The main
area for whale watching is Walvis Bay with tour companies based
both in Walvis Bay and in the nearby coastal town of Swakopmund. There are also two boats based in
Lüderitz, 400km south of Swakopmund.
There has been significant growth in the industry since 1998, when Namibia had an estimated 7,000 whale
watchers. Since then, whale watching tourist numbers have increased dramatically at an average annual
growth rate of 20%. This is almost double the rate at which the number of inbound tourists increased
between 1995 and 2006 (11%) 21. As in 1998, the trips are general nature/eco trips with cetaceans not being
the sole focus of the trips. Different operators put varying levels of emphasis on the dolphin and whale
component of their trips.
Trips are generally three to four hours in duration and, for trips in Walvis Bay, follow a similar route that
includes fishing or mining vessels moored in the bay, one of the oyster farms, Pelican Point (for Heaviside’s
dolphins), the fur seal colony at Pelican Point, and Bird Island (a man‐made guano platform), with other
wildlife sighted opportunistically along the way. Heaviside’s dolphins are a unique attraction to this area as
they are endemic to the region, being found only off the coast of Namibia and the western coast of South
Africa.
Vessel capacity ranges from two‐person kayaks to catamarans that can accommodate up to 40 passengers.
The average vessel capacity is 18 passengers. The average ticket price is $51 for adults and $30 for
children.
The Namibian Dolphin Project, initiated in 2008, aims to assess the conservation status of Namibian dolphin
populations, with particular focus on the two most commonly encountered dolphin species, Heaviside's
dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. The project is investigating the size of the populations, documenting
habitat use and critical habitat areas for these and other dolphin and whale species, using visual surveys and
21
Operators in Namibia are well marketed and promoted which may be part of the reason they experience a higher
than average growth rate.
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