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Meridiela.

Henties Bay

A shore-angling town on the desert coast, built for fishing holidays, with the Skeleton Coast beginning north of it.

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Typetown
WhereErongo
Nearest citySwakopmund
Best seasonDecember to April for angling; year round otherwise
Time to allowA day or as a base
Getting thereAbout 70 km north of Swakopmund on the C34 salt road
EntryFree

Henties Bay exists for fishing. The cold Benguela water off this coast is rich, and the shore angling for kabeljou, steenbras and galjoen has drawn Namibians and South Africans here since the 1920s, with the town growing as a holiday settlement around it. Streets are named after fishing spots. There is little else: a golf course laid out on gravel, a few shops, and the salt road running north into the Skeleton Coast.

What you actually see

  • The shore angling - the fishing the whole town was built around.
  • The salt road - the compacted coastal route running north.
  • The desert golf course - a course laid out on gravel and sand.
  • The Omaruru riverbed - the dry course running through the town to the sea.

When to go

December to April is the main angling season and when the town fills. The rest of the year is quiet. Fog off the cold current is frequent in any month.

Honest expectations

The town is functional rather than attractive and there is little to do without a fishing rod. Fog and cold wind are common even in summer. Accommodation fills over the December holidays.

Nearby

Cape Cross is north, and Swakopmund is south.

What to pack for Henties Bay

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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