Sandwich Harbour Tour Review: Is It Actually Worth It?
If you’re not usually a tour group girlie, don’t worry, neither am I. Most of the time, James and I would much rather rent a car and explore places by ourselves than book organised tours.
But when we started planning our Namibia trip, Sandwich Harbour was one of the few experiences we seriously debated splurging on. We both desperately wanted to see the giant dunes crashing into the Atlantic Ocean, but after everything else we’d already spent on the trip, another £100 each felt really hard to justify.
At first, we thought we’d just drive ourselves. Then we realised you actually need a permit to access Sandwich Harbour properly, and after watching experienced drivers get completely stuck in the sand around Sossusvlei, we quickly decided maybe this was one adventure better left to the experts.
And honestly? Thank god we did. I thought it would just be a scenic drive with some nice views. Instead, we spent the afternoon flying over giant sand dunes in a 4×4 and laughing so hard my stomach hurt.
And somehow, that wasn’t even the most surprising part. We also spotted so much wildlife! Flamingos, jackals, springbok, oryx, a whale and even a snake!
So if you’re debating whether this tour is actually worth the money, if the dune driving feels scary or fun, or whether to book the morning or afternoon tour, here’s exactly what our experience was really like, and why I think anyone who doesn’t mind being thrown around in the back of a car a little will absolutely love it.
🌊 Book this Sandwich Harbour tour if you want to see Namibia’s most unreal landscape up close 🌊
What The Sandwich Harbour Tour Is Actually Like
Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect when we booked the tour. I had in my head that it would just be a nice drive out, a few pretty viewpoints, and then back again, which is exactly why I’d struggled to justify spending the money on it in the first place.
How wrong was I… the tour was so much fun and was more like a 3 hour rollercoaster ride through the dunes. I completely get where the money goes now, especially with petrol prices being what they are at the moment!
Our driver was brilliant too. He clearly loved what he was doing; he wanted us to have such a good time, he’d even prepared a little playlist and seemed just as excited as we were every time we flew over another dune.
You do share the car with other people, but we got really lucky with the couple in our group. It might sound like a small thing, but it actually matters more than you’d think when you’re all crammed into the back of a 4×4 together for hours.
And the scenery is just so surreal. Giant sand dunes crashing down into the Atlantic, it looks like something created on Photoshop. They were also way bigger in person than I’d expected.
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Booking The Tour & Getting There
We left booking this really last minute, as we still weren’t sure what we wanted to do. We only sorted it out 2 days before through Get Your Guide and decided to go with MNG Tours.
It was dead easy, tickets came through straight away, along with confirmation of our pick up location. We also mentioned on the booking that we are vegan, as they do a small buffet half way into the tour, and someone texted us within a few hours to confirm everything.
Our ticket covered seeing the pink salt lakes, the flamingoes, the drive through Sandwich Harbour, and the small buffet in the dunes. For what you actually get included the value is actually pretty decent.
You can choose between picking the tour up in Walvis Bay or getting picked up from your accommodation in Swakopmund and then being driven to Walvis Bay, which is what we did, as we wanted to enjoy a drink or two (or three) at the buffet.
The tour is half a day, and we chose the afternoon tour because the mornings in Swakopmund had been really foggy and rainy while we were there, and we didn’t want to risk not seeing anything.
That said, if photography is your priority, the morning tour is probably the better option. The light will be softer, and you’ll get cleaner shots. Worth checking the forecast before you book so you can plan around it.
MNG were a little late getting to us, but they texted ahead to let us know and called when they were nearly outside our camp. The communication was actually great, and we still made it to Walvis Bay with enough time to grab a coffee and go for a wee before the tour started.
The first stop on the way to Sandwich Harbour is the pink salt lakes, which look stunning. I know it sounds silly, but I didn’t expect them to look as pink as they do in the pictures, but they did on the day we went.
You get out here for about 10 minutes so you can get some pictures, but oh my god, the smell had me holding back dry heaves!
I actually assumed it was something to do with the lakes, which one of our guides thought was hilarious and then proceeded to tell me that it’s actually the flamingoes in the water behind us that are the culprits.
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Driving Along the Beach
Once we’d left the salt lakes behind and I’d stopped gagging, we drove past more flamingos (with the windows firmly shut) and reached the access point for Sandwich Harbour.
This is where things start getting really beautiful as the route follows a sandy track squeezed between huge dunes and the Atlantic Ocean.
At one point, we had to stop because another tour company had got stuck in the sand, so our guides jumped out to help pull them free.
It was really sweet to watch everyone helping each other out, and it also made me very grateful that James and I weren’t attempting this drive ourselves; we would have got stuck at the entrance, knowing our luck.
Our guide kept pulling over anytime he spotted wildlife too. We saw jackals running through the dunes, plus springbok and an oryx that got spooked and disappeared off into the sand.
After driving along the beach for around half an hour, we headed up our first dune and stopped to look out over the Atlantic. Almost as soon as we got out of the car, our guide suddenly started pointing excitedly into the distance and told us he’d spotted a whale.
So obviously out came the zoom lens… and yep, there it was, a whale breaching way out in the ocean.
I’m still impressed he managed to spot it because even fully zoomed in on my camera, it still looked tiny. We stood watching it for about 5–10 minutes before jumping back in the car.
And then the real fun started.
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Flying Over Namibia’s Sand Dunes In A 4×4
Once we left the viewpoint, the three cars in our group wasted absolutely no time getting into full off-road mode. Our guide told us to hold on, and that was it, we were flying up dunes and sliding down the other side in one quick breath.
There was definitely a bit of competitiveness between the three guides too. They were shouting out the windows at each other and winding each other up the whole way around. It was actually really funny to watch.
Some of the dunes were massive. We’d drive past one, and I’d think, there is absolutely no way, then we’d loop around the back, get up to the top, the car would dangle over the edge for a minute or two (just for theatrics), and we’d slide straight back down. We were screaming like we were on a rollercoaster.
We also picked up a few new swear words in Italian from the other couple; we just couldn’t stop laughing.
I actually felt really safe the whole time despite being thrown around in the back of a 4×4. Our guide owned the company and had been doing this for years, and he kept checking in to make sure we were all good, which was really sweet.
Just before the main lookout at Sandwich Harbour, there’s a really sharp hairpin turn, and being last in the group meant we got to watch the other two cars go first. It was pretty impressive to watch. I think this was the only one I got a bit nervous about (we were fine, of course!).
One thing I do want to be upfront about: a lot of fuel gets burnt on this tour.
We were driving constantly and getting up the dunes, you could hear the car struggling at times. I try to be really conscious about stuff like this, so if it’s something that would bother you, it’s worth factoring in before you book.
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The Iconic Sandwich Harbour Viewpoint
This was what first made me want to come to Sandwich Harbour before I even knew the logistics of getting here.
It looks exactly like the photos I’d seen, with huge dunes rolling dramatically down into the crashing waves below. I honestly don’t know if there’s anywhere else like it.
It was pretty busy when we got up there though, which I wasn’t expecting. Our group were all great and naturally took turns taking pictures, but there were a few people from another group who just didn’t read the room. They took ages while everyone else was clearly waiting.
It’s obviously not the end of the world, but it’s definitely a bit of a vibe killer when the viewpoint isn’t that big and you’re already short on time.
We still got some great photos and videos though, so I wasn’t too bothered in the end.
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The Sunset Buffet
After the viewpoint, we drove back down the dune and into a quieter section where no other cars were driving around. The guides quickly set up a buffet table and got some drinks out for everyone to enjoy.
Now, something James and I came across quite a few times during our time in Namibia was people getting confused between vegetarian and vegan. It’s totally fine, we understand veganism isn’t really the norm there, so we never got upset when it happened.
But they really did try. They’d bought us a salad, but it came with cheese and dressing, along with some yoghurts and a few other picky bits we couldn’t eat.
I felt awful having to explain why we couldn’t eat most of it, and they were so apologetic about it. In the end, it was absolutely fine because nothing went to waste.
James and I ate some fruit and the salad without the cheese or dressing (luckily, everything was separate), James had a couple of beers, and I drank a few ciders.
Even though we’d messaged ahead to say we were vegan, I think in hindsight we probably should have listed exactly what we don’t eat as well, just to avoid any confusion. So that’s probably worth keeping in mind if you book too.
One of the other guys in our group also didn’t drink alcohol, and they’d even brought him alcohol-free wine, which I thought was so sweet.
Honestly though, even without the buffet, I still think the tour is worth the money.
We even had one final bit of wildlife spotting here, as we also spotted a winder snake hiding in a bush right beside the car.
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Wildlife And Flamingos
Wildlife was the last thing I expected from this tour. I thought we’d see Sandwich Harbour, eat our body weight in buffet food, and head back. I knew there’d be flamingoes, but I assumed that would be the extent of it.
I was very wrong.
We spotted flamingoes practically the moment we arrived in Walvis Bay, before we’d even been picked up. But just driving along the beach, so much more came into view. Jackals playing about at the bottom of the dunes. Springbok and oryx grazing along the shoreline, and a few seals scattered across the sand too.
Our guide mentioned that whenever they spot seals on the beach, they have to check for signs of rabies. There have apparently been a few reported cases in the area in recent years, so if anything looks off, they’re required to report it. It’s one of many reasons to give wildlife their space, however tempting it is to get a bit closer.
The whale sighting was the biggest surprise of the whole day, though in hindsight, maybe it shouldn’t have been. Walvis Bay literally translates to “Whale Bay”. The clue was right there in the name.
The winder snake we found hiding in a bush near the buffet spot was a funny one for me personally. I’ve had a thing about snakes ever since I worked on a banana farm in Australia years ago, but even I have to admit it was really cool to see. From a safe distance, obviously.
Honestly, the wildlife alone would have made this tour worth booking.
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Why I Chose MNG Tours
I always check reviews before booking a tour. Not just a quick skim either. I mean, actually reading through them, looking at what people say about the guides, the organisation, and whether anything felt off. MNG consistently had really good feedback, which was enough to make me feel comfortable booking with them.
The other thing that settled it was availability. James and I only booked this 2 days beforehand, which in Namibia’s peak season is a bit of a gamble. The fact they still had spots was a relief, but it wouldn’t have meant much if the reviews hadn’t backed it up.
Pricing was pretty similar across all the companies we looked at, so that wasn’t really a deciding factor on its own. But when the prices are roughly the same and one company has noticeably better reviews, it’s a bit of a no-brainer.
We also wanted the option of being picked up and dropped off, mostly because we fancied having a drink without stressing about driving to and from Walvis Bay.
Obviously, the dietary side of things went a little wrong for us, but to be fair, it does clearly say on their website that they cater to dietary requirements. We didn’t exactly end up with a full vegan buffet, but I really think they did try.
And honestly, if you’re vegan or have specific dietary requirements, just be really explicit when you’re messaging beforehand. Instead of only saying you’re vegan, I’d probably say something like: “I’m vegan, so I don’t eat meat, fish, eggs, cheese, or dairy.”
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Who This Tour Is Actually For
This tour works for lots of different people. Solo travellers, couples, groups, and families with older kids. You go out as part of a group, so if you’re travelling alone you won’t feel out of place, and it has a pretty sociable atmosphere anyway.
If you get motion sickness though, make sure you pack travel sickness tablets. Don’t skip them and hope for the best. James really struggles with travel sickness, and he was completely fine with his tablets, but the dune driving is bumpy, and you will get thrown around in the back of the 4×4, so don’t leave it to chance.
It’s also worth thinking about heights. I’m not great with them myself, and I managed fine, but there are definitely moments where you’re right on the edge of a dune looking almost straight down. If that sounds less like a thrill and more like your worst nightmare, this might not be the tour for you.
If you have any injuries or existing conditions, I’d probably check with your doctor before booking. It’s not extreme, but it is rough in places, and it’s better to be sensible about it.
Babies are a hard no. It’s far too rough, so if you’re travelling with bambinos or really young kids, I’d probably wait a few years.
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Would I Book This Tour Again?
Yes, I would 100% book with MNG again.
I really loved our guide. He was genuine, clearly cared about everyone having a good time, and was just a lot of fun to spend the afternoon with.
When you actually think about everything included, I also think the tour offers really good value for money. You spend hours driving through the dunes, you get all the wildlife spotting, the viewpoints, drinks, and the buffet stop in the middle of nowhere.
Even though the vegan food side of things didn’t fully work out for us, we still enjoyed the whole setup and having a few drinks without worrying about driving back afterwards.
If I go again, the only thing I’d do differently would be being much more specific about what we do and don’t eat beforehand. It honestly didn’t bother us that much, we’d had a big lunch before the tour and just grabbed food afterwards, but I think being extra clear would avoid confusion on both sides.
There are a few places in Namibia where you can drive through dunes, but I honestly think the contrast of the huge sand dunes crashing straight into the ocean is what makes Sandwich Harbour feel so special. It genuinely doesn’t look real in places.
🌊 Book this Sandwich Harbour tour if you want to see Namibia’s most unreal landscape up close 🌊
