Booming holiday trade at Independence Beach

Booming holiday trade at Independence Beach Small fast-food stalls, especially the seasonal ones, are excited about the opportunity to do business at Independence Beach in Walvis Bay this festive season.

The beach, which is normally empty throughout the year, turned into a business hub for vendors of food and drinks over the festive season.

This festive season about 35 businesses have set up stalls there to serve locals and visitors, who gather in large numbers on Christmas Day and New Year's Day to party.

Located next to the Walvis Bay Naval Base, Independence Beach is one of the most popular beaches along the coast, where dolphins and seals are sighted regularly.

Tourists hit the beach with the hope of sighting the marine mammals and to experience local cuisine.

Stall owners who spoke to Nampa last week indicated that they had made reasonable profits on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and were looking forward to good profits on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

“This is the only place I am able to do business as I do not have a permanent place, so I am happy that this year I got a chance to sell here,” said Tuhape Hasonga of Hasonga Business.

Operating at the beach for the first time last year, Hasongo sells vetkoek, a popular deep-fried dumpling, and most Namibians' favourite food: braaivleis (barbecue).

Other first-timers, Ndinelao Simson and partner Edwih Nakale of Ndina Traditional Food, sell Owambo bread, chicken and pap.

They are grateful to the municipality of Walvis Bay for giving them the opportunity to sell at the beach.

“Business is good here, but more toilets are needed to accommodate all,” Simson said.

He was there for the fourth time, and said he made close to N$8 000 profit on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

“On peak days, I make enough money but it slows down on normal days to N$700 a day, or even just N$10 in a whole day.”

The business owners said apart from a few instances where thieves grabbed money and mobile phones, the area was safe for everybody.

Last year, a high tide flooded the beach during the peak of the festive season, and left many vendors with financial losses.

This year, the high tide came two days before Christmas when no stalls had been erected yet.

Business on the beach runs between 15 December and 10 January every year.

NAMPA