很多人对纳米比亚的印象停留在红沙漠的荒凉,其实在西海岸的鲸湾港(Walvis Bay),藏着一片完全不同的色彩。这片紧邻大西洋的泻湖湿地,在1995年就被列入了拉姆萨尔国际重要湿地名录,保护面积将近12600公顷。虽然它位于沙漠边缘,却是整个南部非洲最重要的水鸟栖息地之一。每年夏季的高峰期,这里能聚集超过25万只水鸟,其中最引人注目的就是成片成簇的火烈鸟。这片泻湖海拔只有0到5米,走在长廊上,海风里夹杂着淡淡的盐味和鸟群特有的鸣叫声,那种生命力爆发的感觉会让人瞬间忘记身后的荒漠。
在鲸湾港泻湖,你会发现这些粉红色精灵其实长得并不太一样。这里的火烈鸟主要分为大火烈鸟(Greater Flamingo)和小火烈鸟(Lesser Flamingo)。大火烈鸟的身材更魁梧,成年后身高能达到1.4米左右,羽毛颜色偏淡白或浅粉,最明显的特征是那张带着黑尖的淡粉色鸟喙。相比之下,小火烈鸟虽然身高只有90厘米上下,但颜色却更加艳丽,呈现出浓郁的深粉色或玫瑰色,它们的喙几乎全是深红近乎黑色的。在拍摄时,如果看到一群个头错落有致的鸟在一起低头觅食,通过喙部的颜色深浅就能快速分辨出它们的身份。这些色彩并非天生,而是因为它们摄取的藻类和浮游生物中含有丰富的类胡萝卜素,吃得越好,颜色就越娇艳。
虽然鲸湾港全年都有常驻的火烈鸟,但要想看万鸟齐飞的壮观景象,一定要挑对时间。每年12月到次年3月的夏季是最佳观赏期,此时从北半球和非洲内陆迁徙而来的候鸟会悉数到齐,泻湖水面上仿佛铺了一层粉红色的地毯。说到拍照,清晨六点半出发的时候虽然冷到需要披上防风外套,但那是光线最柔和、风力最小的时刻。到了下午,大西洋的阵风往往会吹皱水面,倒影就没那么清晰了。这时候如果你守在泻湖长廊(Lagoon Promenade Rd),正对着大西洋落日的方向,能拍到火烈鸟在金色余晖中涉水漫步的剪影,那是相机捕捉不完的灵动感。
这片泻湖就在鲸湾港市区西南侧,如果你从斯瓦科普蒙德(Swakopmund)驱车过来,大约只有35公里的路程,路况极好。最让人惊喜的是,这片核心观鸟区完全不收门票。你只需把车停在长廊边的免费停车位上,走几步就能看到水边的鸟群。不像那些需要驱车深入的野生动物园,这里更像是一个对公众开放的海滨公园。不过记得别靠得太近,火烈鸟胆子小,如果离岸边太近或者大声喧哗,它们会受惊飞向湖心。建议带上焦距在200mm以上的长焦镜头,这样既不打扰它们,也能抓拍到它们梳理羽毛或者互相打闹的细节。
看完泻湖长廊,别急着回酒店,顺着路往南再开几分钟就能看到鲸湾港盐场(Walvis Bay Salt Works)。这不仅仅是个工厂,它那些巨大的蒸发池因为盐度极高,生长着大量红色藻类,使得湖水呈现出极其不真实的嫩粉色或紫红色。这里也是火烈鸟经常光顾的地方。粉红色的水面配上粉红色的鸟,再加上远处巨大的白色盐堆,那种色彩对比感绝对是纳米比亚行程中的视觉高潮。开车进去的时候慢一点,路边经常有小型的涉禽出没,稍微不留神就会惊动它们。
不需要。鲸湾港火烈鸟泻湖长廊属于公共区域,对游客免费开放,无需预约或购买门票,路边就有大量免费停车位可供自驾使用。如果你选择参加出海游艇或者三明治湾越野团,通常也会包含此处的简短停留。
建议选择清晨或者傍晚。早晨8点前海面通常比较平静,适合拍摄倒影,但有时会遇到浓雾遮挡;下午4点以后光线变暖,夕阳下的火烈鸟颜色最为亮丽。中午时分阳光过于强烈,且海滨风力通常会增大,体感和拍摄效果都稍打折扣。
火烈鸟的数量随季节和降水波动,在11月至次年3月的夏季高峰期,整个鲸湾港湿地及其周边的火烈鸟总数常年保持在5万只以上,整个湿地鸟类总量最高纪录曾超过25万只。即便是冬季旱季,也能看到数千只留居的种群。
泻湖长廊附近有几家很有名的海鲜餐厅,比如建在栈桥上的 The Raft。坐在窗边一边喝着当地的 Windhoek 拉格啤酒,一边吃着每打不到150纳元的鲸湾港生蚝,窗外几米远就是觅食的火烈鸟,这种体验确实很有非洲海滨的特色。
虽然纳米比亚给人沙漠酷热的印象,但鲸湾港受本格拉寒流影响,常年凉爽且多风。即使在夏季,早晚气温也可能降至15摄氏度以下,建议一定要准备一件防风抓绒衣或冲锋衣,尤其是清晨观鸟时,海风吹久了会非常冷。
Benedict Khubeka Good aplec to visit. Very quiet and peaceful. Seeing pink flamingos was of the things I wanted to witness in Namibia 🇳🇦. They are very beautiful and attractive. They just enjoy being in the water 💧 doing their business. Tranquility at its best 👌. This place is very peaceful and yif you need some time off. Get there and relax your mind. It's a free beach area filled with a beautiful and cool breeze 😎. Very clean space and fresh 👌 air are real in the par of the world. It was surrounded by beautiful and big buildings all around.
-Z H- Flamingo Lagoon in Walvis Bay is a mesmerizing natural spectacle. Witnessing thousands of flamingos in their natural habitat is truly breathtaking. The serene environment and picturesque views make it a must-visit for anyone in the area. An unforgettable experience for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike!
Sean N came here a few times as we stayed in a little air bnb in Walvis. What’s nice is that this area of Walvis bay is a lot cleaner with plenty of nice houses and chilled people around mainly walking along the flamingo lagoon shore. There are lots of flamingos scattered all around which can be seen at all times. You just drive to the location, park your car anywhere by the lagoon and jump out and see the flamingo’s. There is no entrance fee or anything to pay and you can get here easily with a small car. There are lovely sunsets and good restaurants around like the anchor, the raft etc selling cheap beer and good seafood
Lavi Shiffman The Flamingo Lagoon is an excellent spot to see and explore Flamingos in the wild. The place has thousands of them and you can gase at them for hours. Highly recommended.
Hey Demi Ann (Demi Ann) Beautiful lagoon, so very clean and oh my goodness their so many flamingos like WOW!! Definitely worth it if your in Walvis bay to go see the flamingos so beautiful very peaceful and safe to walk the whole lagoon!