Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast is a 40km wide and 500km long coastal stretch in the north-west of Namibia and is a fascinating and hostile area of the country. The towering sand dunes of the land meet with the cold and unpredictable waters of the Atlantic Ocean making this appear an uninhabitable area although this is not the case. There certainly isn’t the density and variety of wildlife that you would expect to see in somewhere like Etosha but some wildlife does flourish here.
Desert adapted elephants, rhino, desert lions, brown hyena, jackals, giraffe, kudus, zebra and oryx are all found here as well as large colonies of seals on the coast.
Plant life is also interesting, adapting to the rainless region and depending solely on the fog that rolls in from the sea. There are !nara melons, welwitschias, lichen and several lithops succulent plants to name a few.
The name Skeleton Coast probably derived from the large number of stranded whales that lost their life here which the local tribe of Ovahimba used to make their huts. Numerous ships have been stranded along the coast, thanks to the thick fog, rough seas, stormy winds, and unpredictable currents which only ads to intrigue of the area. Activities from the few lodges of the area tend to focus on exploring the coast and shipwrecks, interesting geological features such as the Ugab Formations and of course game drives in search of the animals, insects and plant life that calls the Skeleton Coast home.
Accommodation Options
Cape Cross Lodge
3 Star. Easy to reach from Swakopmund, clean, comfortable and great value.
Shipwreck Lodge
4.5 Star. Unique design of rooms and main lodge with a stunning inland location.
Serra Cafema
5 Star. Very remote, very beautiful area, stunning property and superb staff.
Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
5 Star. Luxurious tented camp in a remote area. Absolutely superb in every way.
Suggested Itineraries featuring this area
Classic Namibia By Air
14 Days from £6420 per person including international flights
