The Dorob National Park is a National Park close to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay and was proclaimed in August 2010.

The Dorob National Park includes the area of what was previously known as National West Coast Tourist Recreation Area, a coastal strip from the Kuiseb Delta in the south of Walvis Bay to the Ugab river. The Dorob National Parl forms the link between the Skeletton National Park in the north and the Namib Naukluft Park in the south.

Originally the park was founded as Walvis Bay Nature Reserve by the South African administration. With the handover of Walvis Bay from South Africa to Namibia in 1994 (4 years after the Namibian independence), this status was lost.

Size of Dorob National Park Namibia

Dorob National Park (“dry land”) is a protected area in Erongo, along the central Namibian coast, which is 1,600 kilometres (990 mi) in length. It was gazetted as a national park under the Nature Conservation Ordinance No.4 of 1975 on 1 December 2010

Location of Dorob National Park Namibia

The Dorob National Park includes the area of what was previously known as National West Coast Tourist Recreation Area, a coastal strip from the Kuiseb Delta in the south of Walvis Bay to the Ugab River.

How to get to Dorob National Park Namibia

Roughly 6-hour drive from Windhoek Airport, it has a spectacular coastal dune belt, vast gravel plains, Namibia’s richest coastal area for birds and rich botanical diversity. Adding major fleeting river systems and their river mouths to the mix, it is easy to see why they have chosen this area.

Things to do Dorob National Park Namibia

As the park’s main objective is managed conservation, it is unsurprising that wildlife, flora and fauna thrive! It is largely prohibited for outsiders, however, travellers are able to hire a guide to access certain areas. The species that live within the park are the typical and unique desert dwellers that one would expect to find. These include the Oryx, springbok, brown hyenas, black-backed jackal, zebra and spotted hyenas. As it stretches along the coast one will also come across cape fur seals and dolphin sightings.

The barren landscape is home to an amazing 270 bird species, with many rarely spotted. It makes for a very rewarding trip for the ardent birding traveller.

When to visit Dorob National Park Namibia

The Dorob National Park can be visited year-round as there is very little annual rainfall to affect it. The coastal air keeps it slightly cooler than the inland and there is almost no risk of adverse weather. The temperatures can drop quite low at night in the winter nights but that is the only advisable.

Where to stay Dorob National Park Namibia

As the park is largely a protected conservation area, accommodation is very limited. In fact, there are only four specific camping sites within the park. There are no other accommodation forms. There four campsites are at Mile 14, Jakkalsputz, Mile 72 and Mile 108. It is strongly advised to check availability and regulations of the campsites beforehand.

Hentiesbaai is the last little town just outside the southern border of the park. It offers a few self-catering, guesthouse and B&B options.