The Skeleton Coast lies on Namibia’s bleak and savagely inhospitable northern seaboard and forms part of the Namib Desert. Unwary ships have met their end along this coastline over the centuries, turning it into a maritime graveyard. In the past, surviving sailors who came ashore would meet their demise in the pitiless wastes of the Namib Desert.
The name “Skeleton Coast” derives from the bleached bones of whales and seals, remnants from a time when whaling was a thriving industry. Additionally, the coastline is haunted by the shells of more than a thousand ships lost to heavy fog and rocks. Sandy rivers intersect the land, creating green ribbons in certain places where specialised vegetation like lithops and lichen flourish on air-borne moisture.
To preserve this unique location, the Namibian government established the Skeleton Coast National Park. Access is either by light aircraft or through long, dusty dirt roads. Only a few thousand visitors get to experience the drama, solitude, and exceptional natural beauty of the area each year. There are a few small, exclusive camps in the region, and a 10-day fly-in safari is the best way to explore this landscape.
The northern Skeleton Coast Wilderness, stretching between the Hoanib (Mowe Bay) and Kunene Rivers, makes up almost 70% of the Skeleton Coast National Park. This desolate region offers a realistic chance of encountering desert elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and lions, but it is strictly off-limits to independent travellers, with access only possible through an organised fly-in safari.
In the more accessible south, the National West Coast Recreation Area attracts regional fishermen, offering excellent angling opportunities. Cape Cross Seal Reserve, north of Hentie’s Bay, is renowned for being Namibia’s best-known breeding colony of Cape fur seals.
Sand rivers that traverse the Namib Desert reach the sea at various points along the coast, resulting in green, lush ribbons on the land. These rivers provide vital sources of water supporting entire ecosystems, benefiting numerous animal species, including desert elephants, black rhinos, gemsbok (oryx), kudu, springbok, steenbok, jackals, genets, and small wild cats.
Brown hyenas are also common in the area, although spotting them can be challenging. Occasional sightings of giraffes, zebras, lions, and cheetahs occur as these predators use the valleys for hunting. However, lions have not been seen on the beach for many years.
Beside the sea, highly specialised vegetation, thrives on the moisture in the air, presenting a mesmerising array of colours on the ground. The brown and red gravel plains to the south are covered in lichen gardens, displaying hues ranging from reds, oranges, vivid greens, dark browns, greys to blacks.
These lichens, though resembling plants, are not plants themselves; they are a symbiotic partnership of algae and fungi. During the damp early mornings, these lichens are at their best, but pouring water over a patch during the day can also reveal their miraculous transformation.
The gemsbok (oryx) relies on limited water sources from scarce rivers or by collecting moisture in their nostrils from the sea fog that comes inland overnight. Many reptiles and insects also collect moisture in the same way.
Other notable highlights in the area include the large seal colony at Cape Fria, particularly during the birthing period from late November to early January, when seals can be observed fighting, fishing, and rearing their pups up close. Jackals linger around the fringes of the colony with vultures circling overhead.
Enormous sand dunes, such as the Roaring Dunes, are located to the north of the coast and offer ample entertainment for 4×4 enthusiasts.
Namibia’s Skeleton Coast is truly an amazing place and one that it’s worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. Top a Skeleton Coast visit with a safari and cultural experience for an unforgettable African holiday. If you want to know more about the options to Namibia, where to travel from, how long to go for, or any other information, we’re here to help.
Photographer, animal, and wildlife lover!
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