Exploring Namibia’s Skeleton Coast

January 16, 2024
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Mysteries of the Sea and Sand: On Safari Along Namibia's Skeleton Coast

There is nowhere on Earth that captures the power and timeless resilience of Mother Nature quite like the Skeleton Coast in Namibia, a dramatic destination that has captivated travelers, adventurers and explorers for centuries. In this extraordinary place, golden sands give way to sapphire seas, vast, untamed landscapes stretch to the horizon and desert-adapted wildlife thrives against incredible odds. In the stillness and solitude, one is reminded of the ancient wisdom of the land - something that will live on long after our footsteps have faded in the desert sand...

The Skeleton Coast: A Quick Look at an Otherworldly Region


Where is the Skeleton Coast?

Located in southwestern Africa on the Atlantic coast of Namibia, the Skeleton Coast stretches just over 300 miles from the Angolan border in the north to Swakopmund, a former German colony, in the south.

Why is it called the Skeleton Coast?

A hauntingly beautiful expanse of nothingness, the Skeleton Coast is often referred to as the end of the earth. Its name comes from the scattering of skeletons that line the coastline. These are both whale and seal bones (a tragedy resulting from the whaling and sealing industries) and wreckage from thousands of stranded ships that have failed to navigate the treacherous Atlantic Ocean currents.

When is the best time to visit the Skeleton Coast

The Skeleton Coast is enchanting year-round, though many prefer to visit between October and March, when the nights are warmer and the mornings have minimal fog.

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.

The Skeleton Coast has a captivating history, eternalized by the remains of hundreds of ships stranded many centuries ago. Exploring the region today, you can still see wrecked galleons from the 1400s, abandoned by Portuguese explorers who were lured by the promise of diamonds and nicknamed the treacherous coastline “The Gates of Hell.” Other shipwrecks are more recent, such as the South West Seal that crashed in 1976 and now consists of just a few forgotten wood fragments strewn along the sand.

Lastly, let Africa be your classroom while exploring the rich culture of the little-inhabited Skeleton Coast. The Himba, Namibia’s most iconic and visually-striking tribe, still live a traditional, semi-nomadic lifestyle in the remote northwest of the country. Livestock is essential to their culture and, through a unique blend of ancient herding practises and modern adaptations, they continue to thrive in one of the world’s most inhospitable environments. Visiting a local Himba community is enlightening and offers a fascinating glimpse into human adaptability and cultural resilience

Discover the breathtaking treasures of the Skeleton Coast, one of the world’s most isolated and fascinating wilderness areas that will give you a profound connection with nature and a deeper appreciation of the forces that shape our world. Learn how you can embark on a luxury Namibia safari with ROAR AFRICA today.

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