Guns (Walvis Bay)
- Wave, Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Small waves, Medium waves
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Guns (Walvis Bay) is an exposed reef/point break known for producing long left-hand waves, with powerful, peeling sections when swell conditions line up. The spot is described as technically demanding because the launch area is rocky and the bottom is a reef with rocks and submerged reef sections. Conditions are highly tide-dependent. Multiple sources flag the same key risk: heavy shorebreak and strong currents around high tide, and increased danger around the rocks at low tide. With rocks and sharks specifically noted hazards, it’s important to manage entry/exit carefully and avoid riding conditions that place you on or near the rocks during unfavorable tide states. Surf performance is generally best with decent west–southwest swell (working swell height commonly cited around 1.5 to 4.0 meters). Ride length is described as long, and one source reports rides on the order of 150–300 meters on optimal days. Wind can also shape wave face quality; east winds are described as offshore/cleaning for the surf, while kitesurfing is most supported by southerly to southwesterly wind directions. Beyond surfing, wind sports are viable: kitesurfing is possible but limited by shorebreak/currents and the rocky setup, while windsurfing is described as excellent on strong wave days (with specific attention to east wind in winter). Water remains cold year-round due to the Benguela Current, so a full 4/3mm wetsuit (often with added cold-water protection in winter) is consistently recommended.
- Long left-hand waves from an exposed reef/point break
- Powerful, organized peeling walls on the right swell
- Technical rocky launch with major tide-related hazards
- Year-round cold water—wet-suit planning is essential
- Long left-hand point/reef waves when swell and tide align
- Consistent, exposed wave setting with powerful performance walls
- Strong wind reliability for wave-oriented wind sports in the region
- Kitesurfing possible with the right southerly-to-southwesterly wind
- Technical rocky/reef environment with sharp rocks and submerged reef sections
- Heavy shorebreak and strong currents at tide extremes (especially high tide)
- Cold Benguela Current water requiring year-round wetsuits
- No lifeguards and rescue reported as not available on-site
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- S, SSW, SW
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Providers describe both trade winds and thermal/sea-breeze enhancement; overall prevailing directions align with southeasterly-to-southwesterly flow.
- Reliability
- high
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Light gusts reported by one provider; another describes generally high reliability.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, August, September, October, November, December
- Thermal Window
- Other · Afternoon · Months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec · Dir: S, SSW, SW · Strong afternoon thermal enhancement is noted by one provider, including a stated window from 13:00 to 18:00 (summer months).
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves, Medium waves
- Beach
- Reef — Also described as rocks; reef/rock bottom is a consistent theme.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Big — Conflicting inputs: one provider describes flat/flat wave size, while others describe medium-to-big wave potential.
- Launch
- Medium — Rocky shoreline with limited sandy patches for launching.
- Launch Difficulty
- Difficult — Rocky shoreline and technical entry/exit.
Through the year
Weekdays typically empty; weekends see a few surfers.
Extremely arid; rainfall is rare. Rain is extremely rare; morning fog is common but usually clears by midday; storm risk is very low.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Possible but technical and limited by strong currents and heavy shorebreak at high tide; best with south to southwest winds for the on-water conditions and wave direction.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–10 m²
Excellent wave-sailing spot on strong swell days; described as top windsurfing spot with east winter winds for wave sailing, including freeride/wave styles.
- Sail Sizes
- 4–5.3 m²
Challenging due to rocky bottom/reef and narrow launch channels; only recommended for riders capable of handling waves.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Limited foil-friendliness reported; a minimum depth of 1.5 meters over the reef is cited.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–5 m²
Exposed reef/point break producing long left-hand waves; needs decent swell to perform well.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- W, SW
- Swell Height
- 1.5–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Providers conflict: one indicates low tide is best; another indicates mid tide.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed reef and point break with rocky shoreline.
- Wind Effect
- East winds are described as offshore/cleaning for surf faces; wind can align best with east to northeast offshore winds (as reported by one provider).
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well and becomes more organized with larger SW swells.
- Wave Quality
- Excellent — Also described as good by another provider.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Described as powerful with long, high-performance walls.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Also described as peeling.
- Ride Length
- Long — Long left-hand point/reef waves; can offer very long rides on optimal days.
- Typical Ride Length
- 150–300 m
- Ride Length Details
- Long lefts; can reach several hundred meters on optimal days. Typical ride length reported as 150–300m.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Guns (Walvis Bay) in the full forecast view.
Guns (Walvis Bay) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–16 ktsGusts 23 kts
- Direction
- W278°
- Strongest day
- Tue, Oct 2716 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.7–1.1 m8s period
- Temperature
- 13–23 °C
Over the next 7 days, Guns (Walvis Bay) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–16 kts, peaking around 16 kts on Tuesday, October 27 with gusts to 23 kts. The prevailing direction is W. Waves run 0.7–1.1 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Sharks
- Strong currents
- Heavy shorebreak at high tide
- Cold water
- Submerged reef sections
- Sharp rocks
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No dedicated public beach lifeguard service; rescue is generally reliant on regional/emergency services rather than on-site staff.
- Emergency Info
- Rescue availability is reported as no; nearest medical facilities are in Walvis Bay or Swakopmund (about 15–20 minutes away).
- Localism / Vibe
- Moderate — One provider reports moderate localism; another reports none.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the local lineup at this sensitive point break.
- Avoid high tide due to heavy shorebreak and strong current.
- Check the tide carefully as the rocks become very dangerous at low tide.
- Use a durable board with extra glassing due to powerful waves.
- Wear a 4/3mm wetsuit with hood, booties, and gloves due to cold Benguela Current (winter conditions can be colder).
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Walvis Bay
- Nearest Town
- Walvis Bay
- Parking
- Dirt parking area available near the break.
- Access
- Accessible via the coastal road between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund; a short walk from the parking area to the water. Look for Dolphin Park Chalets as a reference point; the spot is just in front of them. Easily accessible and fairly straightforward to find.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Guesthouses and hotels are available in nearby Langstrand, Walvis Bay, and Swakopmund.
- Food & Drink
- No facilities on-site; nearest options are in Langstrand or Walvis Bay.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental gear is available in Swakopmund surf shops.
- Gear Storage
- Limited storage facilities; many riders store gear at accommodation or in vehicles.
- Gear Repair
- Minor repairs available in Swakopmund surf shops; major repairs difficult.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Walvis Bay combines strong wind-sports conditions with desert-and-ocean scenery and nearby wildlife-focused activities.
Largest natural harbor in Southern Africa with abundant birdlife.
One of the highest sand dunes in the world, popular for climbing and sandboarding.
Desert-to-sea experiences including dune driving and whale watching.
Excursions where the giant dunes of the Namib Desert meet the Atlantic Ocean.
Fresh seafood and local cuisine.
A well-known restaurant built on stilts over the lagoon waters.
Interactive marine exhibits and whale/penguin viewing.
Guided kayak tours to see the massive Cape fur seal colony and dolphins.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Guns (Walvis Bay)?
The best overall months at Guns (Walvis Bay) are January, February, March, August, September, October, November, December.
Which wind directions work at Guns (Walvis Bay)?
Guns (Walvis Bay) works with S, SSW, SW winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Guns (Walvis Bay)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Guns (Walvis Bay): Kitesurfing: 7–10 m² · Windsurfing: 4–5.3 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–5 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Guns (Walvis Bay) suitable for?
Guns (Walvis Bay) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate to Advanced · Windsurfing: Intermediate to Advanced · Wingfoiling: Expert · Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.