The length on stay depends on the purpose of the visit.

The town is often used for lunch breaks on the route from Twyfelfontein to Swakopmund, and can also be used as a refuelling point on routes that include Twyfelfontein and Brandberg.

The town is a very popular surf, rock and shark angling destination, as well as providing access to the Brandberg. If this is the purpose for the visit allow two or three nights and one or two full days to incorporate fishing and / or activities.

There are a number of hotels and guesthouses in and around Henties Bay. Although small, Henties Bay has all the basic types of shops and banking services.

Itinerary
The town can be incorporated on routes between Swakopmund and Twyfelfontein, Brandberg, .

Namibians on Holiday
During December and over the Easter period, Henties Bay becomes the playground of Namibians and visiting South Africans who come for the fishing in particular. Accommodation is hard to find during these periods.

Timing of visit
The best time to visit is during the high season. At other times of the year, the high number of Namibians and South Africans may cause difficulties in finding accommodation.

Clothing & sun
Henties Bay is generally damp in the morning and sunny from mid morning onwards. Mist may rise again in the late afternoon. Travellers should carry clothing accordingly. Even if it does look like a hot sunny day, take a jersey or jacket along. For activities, a hat, sunscreen, good shoes and socks are a firm recommendation, as is large amounts of sunscreen. Although it may appear cool and misty, sunburn can still be a serious problem.

Henties Bay lies at the heart of a very ecologically sensitive area, and is extremely touchy about damage to the environment, as the mock 'littering gallows' indicates.

Travellers should take care not to disturb birds or nature, should not litter, remove anything, or make fires unless permitted. Rules and guidelines will be posted at the entrance to ecologically sensitive areas.

When following a 4 X 4 trail, follow the GPS points and avoid going off the route, not only to protect the environment, but also to avoid becoming lost. Read the guidelines for driving in the desert, here>>

Quad biking is only allowed in certain areas.

A number of rules apply to angling. These include catch sizes, bait collection and transport of catches to South Africa. If catches are to be taken to South Africa, a permit must be acquired well in advance.

Clothing
Travellers should pack clothing suitable for hot weather, cold weather and damp weather (due to mist and fog). All three types of weather may occur in the same day.

Fishing tackle
There are a number of activity operators who include use of fishing tackle in their activities.

* Cape Cross
* Trips to Brandberg
* Trips to Doros and Messum Craters
* Trips to Spitzkoppe
* 4 X 4 trails
* Walking trails
* Surf and rock angling
* Shark angling

Cape Cross Seal Reserve is the site where European explorers first set foot on Namibian soil. It is also the site of a giant colony of Cape fur seals. There are a number of relics from an early industrial settlement at the site. Lichens can also be seen. Note: the seal colony is noisy and has a very strong smell. Highly sensitive and refined travellers may not appreciate it.

Spitzkoppe is easily accessible from Henties Bay. The destination offersa number of traveller activities, including a visit to an ancient settlement, known as Bushman’s Paradise, where some rock art can be seen. Mineral specimens can also be purchased. However the greatest attraction is for experienced climbers who visit the site for a number of sports climbs which can be done in a day.

The main attraction of the Brandberg is the ‘White Lady’, a beautiful piece of rock art and a Namibian monument. The White Lady is found in the Tsisab Ravine at the foot of the Brandberg. In this ravine, there are more than 1,000 rock shelters and over 45,000 rock paintings.

The area is also of great appeal to those interested in geology. The Brandberg is a granitic inselberg that was forced out of the surrounding landscape by volcanic activity millions of years ago. A number of interesting specimens can be purchased in the vicinity of the Brandberg.

The Messum Crater, an ancient volcanic feature should only be visited with an activity operator as the 250 km 4 X 4 route requires expert offroad driving. The crater is a wide, flat basin, approximately 25 km in diameter. The scenery is very desolate and the views very beautiful. En route, visitors can expect to see big lichen fields, the Welwitschia mirabilis, as well as archaeological sites where nomadic Damaras stayed. Allow a full day.

* Cape Cross
* Trips to Brandberg
* Trips to Doros and Messum Craters
* Trips to Spitzkoppe
* 4 X 4 trails
* Walking trails
* Surf and rock angling
* Shark angling

Common edible species include silver kabeljou, west coast steenbras, galjoen en blacktail (dassie).  Anglers must be in possession of a licence, which can easily be obtained in Henties Bay. The most popular time for angling is between January and April.

Shark angling is permitted, but sharks may not be kept, and have to be returned to the water alive and unharmed, in terms of Namibia’s conservation policy. Species include copper sharks, bronze sharks, spotty sharks, cow sharks and hound sharks.

There are two walking trails in the vicinity of Henties Bay, the easy Jakkalsputz trail and the more demanding Omaruru walking trail. Details are available at the tourist office.

Henties Bay can be reached in a small 2 X 4 sedan, however if travelling inland, it is advisable to check the condition of the roads. A 4 X 4 may be needed, especially if it has rained further inland.

Walvis Bay via Swakopmund
* Follow the B2 from Walvis Bay to Swakopmund (approx. 30 km).
* Follow the C34 to Henties Bay (approx. 66 km).

Cape Cross
* Travel north on the C34 from Henties Bay to the signposted turn-off (approx. 48 km).
* Turn left at the signposted turn off and drive to Cape Cross (approx. 3 km).

Spitzkoppe
Follow the D3716 from the Spitzkoppe to the D1925 (approx. 5 km).
Follow the D1925 to the D1928 (approx. 18 km).
Follow the D1918 to Henties Bay (approx. 88 km)

* Follow the D1918 to the D3716 (approx. 17 km)
* Follow the D3716 to the Spitzkoppe turn-off (approx. 15 km)

Brandberg
* Follow the C34 to the C35 turn-off (approx. 6 km).
* Follow the C35 to the D2359 (approx. 124 km).
* Follow the D2359 to the Brandberg (approx. 21 km).

Twyfelfontein (to the D3214 turn-off)
* Follow the C34 to the C35 turn-off (approx. 6 km).
* Follow the C35 to the D2359 (approx. 124 km).
* Continue on the C35 to the D2612 turn-off (approx. 60 km).
* Follow the D2612 to the D3214 turn-off to Twyfelfontein (approx. 68 km).

* Swakopmund
* Walvis Bay
* Cape Cross
* Langstrand
* Brandberg
* Twyfelfontein
* Spitzkoppe
* Usakos
* Etosha

Henties Bay is a small town in the vast Namib Desert, and offers big experiences that include surf angling, shark angling, 4X4 trails and solitary walks in the desert.

In 1929, Major Hentie van Der Merwe, a farmer, motor dealer and game hunter from Kalkveld heard that a museum in Pennsylvania was offering a large amount of money for a complete rhino skeleton.

He headed off to the Brandberg area with a few helpers to hunt the rhino. He shot the unfortunate beast, but realised that the party was short of water, and that they would not have time to prepare the carcass by putting it next to an ant heap, where the ants could strip its bones.

He packed the half cleaned carcass in the truck and set off towards the coast in search of water. They arrived at the coast approximately 16 km north of Cape Cross and set off down the beach. The journey was difficult and slow due to the sift sand and the stench of the rotting carcass.

They found no water at the mouth of the Omaruru River, but a few km to the south they came upon a patch of reeds fed by a small spring.

Hentie van der Merwe was attracted to the place and returned during his next December holiday. He built himself a wooden shack. In a few years, he began inviting friends to join him. They referred to it as Hentie’s Bay.

So the place got its name, and began to develop, turning into the small, pleasant holiday town it is today.

The weather is temperate, but highly variable in the course of a day. The cold weather system of the Benguela current which flows off Namibia’s coast carries moisture into the desert. This combines with the warm air of the Namib to produce mist and fog, sometimes as far as 140 km inland. However at times, the well known ‘East Wind’ blows in from the desert producing hot, clear days. Mornings are often misty. The mist usually clears later in the morning, and often reappears in the evenings. Travellers should be prepared for a variety of weathers.