Pink Lakes of Walvis Bay

After indulging on a desert tour, swimming in the ocean, visiting the aquarium, eating at massive amounts of fatty, fine food, and going to bed in an exhausted stupor for two days, it was my turn to choose. While I was researching things to do while in Swakopmund, I found a few blogs and travel sites that preached the glory of pink salt lakes located south of Walvis Bay. 

I decided I needed to see these for myself because the photos on the blogs looked ultra filtered and super fake. We drove toward Salt Works, also known as Walvis Bay Salt Holdings. It is Africa's largest salt manufacturer, putting out 700,000 tons of salt every year. 

Fun fact: evaporated seawater, once fully processed makes up a content of 99.4% sodium chloride. Water is pumped from the Walvis Bay Lagoon and dumped on what they call pre-evaporation ponds and concentration ponds. Wind and sun essentially brine the contents of the water to the point where layers crystallization can occur. The layers of crystals get scraped off and transported to a washing plant where calcium sulfate and magnesium are removed before undergoing further washing and drying. Bulk salt then gets shipped locally and worldwide from the Walvis Bay port. 

The southbound D1986 road leads you to the entrance of Salt Works, so if you veer right into the seemingly nothingness of the salt flats, eventually you will drive past the pink salt reserves on the left. 

And, yes. They are as pink as they look on the internet. The large plots of pink, salty, water are sectioned off by grey-brown dirt moats. The water's edges are coated with what looks like sludgy sea foam, but up close are actually salt crystals. I admit, there are one or two signs along the road that say "stay on the road" but I had to get a picture or two, so we stopped just long enough that I could jump out and get some. 

Beyond the salt flats, the road eventually peters out to a beach where people can stand in the wind and watch the ocean. Or maybe they could kayak. Other than that, there is little else out there. Except for birds. Walvis Bay is stuffed with pelicans, cranes, and flamingos, and makes the whole experience twice as pink. And about fifteen times more stinky. Wildlife. What can you do? 

At Pelican Point