Why the Skeleton Coast is a Popular Attraction
Wildlife and Eerie Natural Beauty along the Skeleton Coast
Exploring the Skeleton Coast is a journey of contrasts. For as far as the eye can see, swathes of caramel dunes undulate to the horizon, dotted with rocky outcrops and the occasional hardy desert oryx. Then, the ochre sand gives way to the tumbling, cerulean waves of the Atlantic Ocean, in an extraordinary meeting of two elements. An anomaly is the pink salt lake of Walvis Bay, turned fuschia by a special microalgae and a stunning sight.
Although seemingly inhospitable, a Skeleton Coast safari will reveal sightings of a range of resilient mammals, including desert-adapted lions and elephants who travel many hundreds of miles in search of water, as well as oryx, kudus and caracal cats. For many, the brown hyena is a highlight of a visit to this arid region and the shaggy mammals can often be spotted skulking across the dunes, their shaggy coats the best protection from the elements.
The coastline is also home to a varied selection of marine life, from nearly a dozen shark species, including bronze whaler sharks and great whites, to dolphins, migrating whales and one of the world’s largest Cape fur seal colonies. This colony of 200,000 seals at Cape Cross in fact marks the spot where the first European explorer set foot on Namibian shores in 1486.
The Best National Parks on the Skeleton Coast
Skeleton Coast National Park is the region’s main attraction, spanning 6,504 square miles along Namibia’s northern coastline. The southern portion of the park is freely accessible, though permits are required in some places. It is here that you will find the Cape Cross fur seal colony, as well as the Walvis Bay Lagoon that is frequented by flamingoes, great white pelicans and cape cormorants. In the migration season, thousands of sandpipers, plovers and whimbrels can also be seen.
The northern section of the National Park can only be entered via bush plane with a certified guide. It is here that you’ll find the Skeleton Coast’s highest concentration of wildlife. Desert-adapted elephants dig for water in the bed of the ephemeral Hoanib River, whilst the rare Hartmann’s mountain zebra can often be found in the rugged hills alongside desert-adapted giraffe.
Activities and Adventures on the Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast is positioned amid the cold and unpredictable Benguela Current, making it a haven for experienced surfers and beach fishers. For most travelers, though, the region is best explored by land instead of ocean. Sandboarding the towering dunes—or traversing them in a four-wheel-drive vehicle—is perhaps the most thrilling way to spot wildlife.
On foot, you can walk across the soft sand beaches without seeing another soul, or gear up for a challenging hike in the Ugab River Canyon. A particularly iconic Skeleton Coast activity is to take in its vastness from above on a scenic flight, making stops at the shipwreck sites and atop majestic dunes. ROAR AFRICA’s on-the-ground experts can arrange all of these experiences and more for your Skeleton Coast safari.