Dune 7

Dune 7 takes its name from being the seventh dune along the Tsauchab river from the coast road, and at around a hundred and thirty metres it is one of the higher dunes easily reached from a town. It sits beside the road ten kilometres from Walvis Bay with a picnic area and palms at the base, and people climb it for the view over the dune field and the plains. Sandboarding and quad biking operate here through the season.

What you actually see

• The climb - around 130 metres of loose sand to the crest.
• The view - the dune field running south and the plains north.
• The picnic area - palms and shade at the base of the dune.
• The activities - sandboarding and quad biking run by operators from Walvis Bay.

When to go

March to October is the cooler window. Early morning and late afternoon are the only comfortable times to climb. Wind picks up through the afternoon and blows sand hard.

Honest expectations

The climb is harder than it looks; loose sand makes it exhausting and people turn back. There is no shade on the dune itself. Quad bikes and crowds at weekends spoil the quiet.

Nearby

Walvis Bay is west, and Swakopmund is north up the coast.