Festive season in full swing

More than a thousand people flocked to Independence Beach on Christmas. Municipal accommodation facilities are also all fully booked for the festive season. Walvis Bay municipal resorts supervisor Florencia Mutrifa confirmed that more than 3180 people visited Dolphin Park and 1 300 slide ride tags were sold on Christmas. A total of 5455 people visited Dolphin Park on Christmas and Boxing Day last year. Mutrifa said that the number of visitors increased steadily from 470 on 20 December to 520 on 22 December. The number of people visiting is expected to slow down on 27 and 28 December before picking up again on from 29 December to 2 January. All water slides at the park are functional and approximately 575 rides were sold at N$15 each for this period. There are also lifeguards and a team of qualified first-aid personnel at the site. Mutrifa advised parents to keep a close watch over their children when visiting the facility. “Children are constantly getting lost. We also advise parents not to allow children on the green slide. The children get claustrophobic and can injure themselves.” She said that the 21 bungalows at Dolphin Park are fully booked and occupied by visitors from Walvis Bay, Windhoek and Rehoboth. “Places at the facility will only become available again as from 7 January 2018. Holidaymakers started arriving from 15 December already. The occupancy rate is also much better this year with holidaymakers booking the facilities for longer periods.” There are also definitely more people camping at Long Beach leisure park this year. The 120 campsites capable of accommodating eight people are all fully occupied with over 1 000 campers at the venue. “The first group consisting of 30 persons arrived from Botswana on 15 December and booked in until 22 December. More holidaymakers pitched on 20 December. We are now packed to the brim and are fully booked until 5 January. There is even a waiting list of over 35 applicants waiting for camping sites should any become available.” Approximately 60% of the campers are locals, with most of the 40% of foreign visitors coming from South Africa. The 27 bungalows at Esplanade Park are also fully occupied by 88 visitors. The municipality reminded holidaymakers that camping on the seashore is not allowed overnight. Bonfires or barbeques are also not allowed unless suitable and removable containers are used. Ash or coals should not be left on the beach. The dumping of anything that affects the cleanliness of beach is prohibited and carries fines of N$1000. This includes leaving behind bait, fish hooks or offal. Visitors should also take note that permits are required for recreational angling (from the ministry of Marine Resources and Fisheries offices in Swakopmund or Walvis Bay ) as well as for off-road or dune excursions by quad bikes or four-wheel-drive vehicles (available from the ministry of Environment and Tourism offices and Dare Devil Adventures). Quad bikes must be licensed and riders must wear helmets at all times. Quad bikes are only allowed in the central dune belt between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay as demarcated by the ministry of Environment and Tourism. Motorbikes and quad bikes, other than those belonging to registered tour operators with permission, are not allowed on the beach between the Swakop River and Sandwich Harbour (including Pelican Point). Riding in the area between the low-water mark and the first crest of the western side of the sea-facing dunes between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay up to the Kuiseb Delta is also not allowed. No riding is allowed on any unproclaimed roads or tracks on the eastern edge of the dune belt or anywhere in the Swakop River. Fireworks are prohibited in residential areas. Permission to shoot fireworks must be obtained from the Namibian Police and if such is obtained extreme care should be taken when handling fireworks. OTIS FINCK

Festive season in full swing

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

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Festive season in full swing

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-08

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