Travel Guide Henties Bay

The story of the site resembles a pioneer tale. It is that of Hentie van der Merwe, a South African soldier stationed in Namibia, who in the 1920s followed the course of the Omaruru River to the sea. He discovered a spring there, and since fishing was abundant, he decided to return in the following years, taking in his wake more and more neighbors, who also became enthusiastic about the place. Leaving for vacation was complicated. It was necessary to cross the desert, which required a considerable effort and obliged the inhabitants of the village to agree to leave at the same time. Things became easier in 1959, when a road was built, linking the interior of the country to Henties Bay. Today, the former "private" Henties Bay is a charming village that comes alive during the South African vacations.