Namibia's Seal Rabies Warning: Keep Your Distance

Is it still safe to see seals in Namibia? Yes, if you keep your distance and never touch them. This is not a reason to panic, or to stop loving seals. It is a reason to remember one old rule and to take it more seriously than before: we do not touch wild animals.

But first, what do we actually know?

What has been confirmed about Namibia seal rabies

The World Organisation for Animal Health reports that since 2024, more than 100 cases of rabies have been confirmed in Cape fur seals in South Africa and Namibia. As of May 2026, more than 145 human exposure incidents had been reported.

In Namibia, the first case was a seal at Walvis Bay Lagoon. It showed aggression and unusual behaviour before it died, and laboratory tests in Windhoek then confirmed rabies. Namibia's acting chief veterinary officer announced it on behalf of the ministry. Ocean Conservation Namibia, a trust based in Walvis Bay, records that the disease was confirmed in Namibian seals in June 2025.

What we do not know, and why that matters

I want to be careful here. This is a health topic, and fear travels faster than facts.

The confirmed cases do not mean every seal is sick, or that a seal on the beach is dangerous just because it is a seal. The numbers come from testing, and they will change as testing continues. We have not seen an official estimate of how widespread the disease is in the Namibian colonies, so we do not make one.

What you can act on is much simpler, and it does not depend on exact numbers. Never touch a wild seal, whether it looks sick or perfectly healthy, and keep children and pets away. This was good practice long before rabies. Our article on why touching marine animals harms them explains the wider reasons.

What should you do when a seal comes close?

Cape fur seals can be curious. But curiosity does not remove the risk of a bite. If one comes towards you on the shore or on a jetty, move back calmly and give it space to pass. Do not feed it, do not try to help it into the water, and do not let a dog near it.

Namibia's veterinary services say it clearly: do not approach, touch or feed a seal, however peaceful or calm it looks. If you see a seal behaving strangely, tell your guide or the local authorities where it is, and never try to handle it yourself.

Where no local distance is set, a cautious reference comes from the United States, where NOAA Fisheries asks people to stay at least 50 yards from seals and sea lions, in the water or on shore. You are too close if the animal starts to stare, fidget or flee into the water.

If you are bitten or scratched

Treat any bite or scratch from a seal as a possible rabies exposure. Namibia's veterinary services advise washing the wound well with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes, getting medical care straight away, and telling the health worker you may have been exposed to rabies. South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases says the same, and adds that a clinic can assess the risk and give treatment after exposure if needed.

Both also ask that any pets taken to the beach are vaccinated against rabies. If you travel with children, explain the rule before you reach the water, not when a seal is already close.

Choosing a kayak or boat tour

A good tour should explain how it keeps distance from seals, in the water and on land, and what the guide does when an animal behaves unexpectedly. Ask this before you book. A good answer is calm and specific, and it includes the moment the group paddles away.

On a kayak, I keep my phone and a dry layer in a small roll-top dry bag, so my hands stay on the paddle, ready to move back, and not busy with a camera.

Ocean Calling does not run trips in Namibia while our operator and safety checks are still open. Always check the latest advice from Namibia's veterinary services before you travel. If you are still deciding where the ocean is calling you, our Ocean Match can help. Respect begins well before an animal reaches your boat.

If this made you curious about meeting the ocean this way, you can explore our upcoming retreats.

Questions people ask

Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed and never forced. Ocean Calling works only with vetted, ethical local operators, and every animal is free to approach, or not, entirely on its own terms. This story is not medical advice: after any bite or scratch, see a health professional.