Cape Cross Seal Reserve

Not far from Cape Cross is the Cape Cross Seal Reserve and also the largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals in the world. 

This barren and inhospitable coastline laid unexplored for 400 years after Diego Cão in 1486 erected the stone cross.

The first sighting of the seals was in 1884 of the coast of Southern Africa. During that period, the world had an interest in guano, the waste left by fish-eating birds and was using it as fertiliser and it didn’t take long before discovering this coast. In 1895, people started to settle in Cape Cross and the guano export business boomed. The first railway line and water distilling plant were built along with a post office. 

The boom was short-lived, and nine years later the harsh nature of the coast one again reclaimed the land; the harbour became a salt pan, and the rusty remains of the guano industry lay hidden in the sand.

The Reserve lies close to the town of Swakopmund and Henries Bay within the West Coast National Park, a 200 stretch of coastline between the Swakop and Ugab rivers. The Brandberg Mountain is visible from Cape Cross.

From a distance, thousands of seals contribute to the cacophony of bleats and barks that fill the air competing with the screeching of Kelp gulls. 

During the breeding season in November and December, there may be up to 210,000 seals at Cape Cross.

The 200-metre walkway constructed of recycled plastic keep a safe distance between visitors and seals. 

The cold Benguela Current hold thousands of pups amused in the water learning their fishing skills and also the awareness of sharing the waters with Killer whales and Copper sharks. 

On land, the black-backed jackal prowl the edge of the colony and at night the elusive brown hyena awaits the right opportunity.

                We waived goodbye to sweet pups as we continue out journey to Swakopmund.