The Valley divides Henties Bay into North Dune and South Dune: the old branch of the Omaruru River splits the town into two named areas. In 1929, Major Hentie van der Merwe discovered a freshwater spring in the Valley, near the beach. The town’s layout thus brings together a landscape feature and a specific historical discovery. The names of the areas, the Valley and the spring give Henties Bay a distinctive geographic and historical character.

The Valley and the town’s history

The Henties Gallows also recalls the town’s early history. The town’s early residents, Frank Atkinson and Willie Cilliers, erected it in 1978 as a friendly but firm warning to keep the town and beach clean. Together with the spring in the Valley, it is another specific historical landmark in Henties Bay.

Golf, hiking and fishing

Visitors can play a round of golf at the Henties Bay Golf Course. From Henties Bay, they can also hike the Omaruru River walking trail and experience the local wildlife and plant life. Anglers are welcome on the long beaches with four-wheel-drive vehicles; permits and fishing regulations apply. Each activity offers a different focus: golf takes place on a named course, the trail leads visitors through local wildlife and plant life, and the beaches provide a setting for fishing. Check current access arrangements before hiking or riding a quad bike.

Dunes and coast south of the town

Visitors can ride quad bikes in the dunes around Henties Bay. Solitude Bay, with its rocky shores and hummock dunes, lies south of the town. Coastal desert plants adapted to harsh conditions stabilise these dunes. The nearby coastal landscape is therefore more than just a beach: it also includes rocky shores and a dune terrain held in place by plants. Another historical landmark lies near Die Walle, a popular fishing spot about 14 km south of Henties Bay: the fishing trawler Zeila ran aground there in the early morning of 25 August 2008.

Erongo as the wider setting

The wider destination of Erongo includes Henties Bay and Swakopmund, as well as the hamlet of Wlotzkasbaken, within Dorob National Park. Cape Cross Seal Reserve is also part of the region: it protects the world’s largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals. Up to 210,000 animals gather there during the breeding season in November and December; this maximum is an estimate and may vary from year to year. A boardwalk makes it easier to observe the seals. Check the current condition of the facilities before visiting. Cape Cross is also historically significant: Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão landed there in 1486 and erected a stone padrão. A replica is visible today; the area, including a second replica, is designated a National Heritage Site.

Discover more destinations: Swakopmund, Rand Rifles, Uigaran, Usakos, Cape Cross, Uis, Omaruru, Langstrand

For the wider travel overview: Erongo.