Visit the Skeleton Coast, Namibia

 Ships, whales, and other marine life have all met their fate in the dangerous waters near Namibia's northern coast due to its strong currents, deadly fog, and shifting sandbanks. Skeletal remnants of bleached whales and unfortunate ships litter the area's beautiful beaches, earning it the moniker "Skeleton Coast" or, to the local San people, "the land God formed in anger."

Travel to this outlying region of the country used to require a light aircraft journey, but that has changed recently. A picturesque fly over the barren coastline is still recommended, but we can now also provide tours via private vehicle.

Check out the rusted wrecks and the stark, rocky environment of Skeleton Coast National Park while staying at one of the few deluxe lodges in the area. There aren't many places to stay, so it's no surprise that the location is quiet and isolated.

Visit the Ugab Formations, where massive slabs of strata-striped rock lie twisted and worn in the Ugab riverbed, on a guided tour during your stay. Hoarusib Canyon is also home to several interesting clay structures that look like crumbling castles.

The wind-carved dunes may be seen from most hotels, and tours can be arranged. A resounding roar may be heard as you walk, run, or drive on them, but it is not from a nearby lion; rather, it is the expulsion of air trapped between the sand grains. You may get your heart rate up by sandboarding down the dunes or riding a quad bike through the sand.

On your game drive, you may see gemsbok (oryx), kudu, springbok, and jackals, as well as the elephant, giraffe, and hyena that have adapted to the desert.

As your guides take you on an excursion, they will explain the various strategies the creatures have developed for surviving in such a hostile habitat. Elephants will burrow through the sand to reach the underground rivers that provide them with water. Opportunistic giraffe, lion, hyena, and baboons use the deep wells they produce.

Coastal fog provides ideal conditions for a diverse array of plant and insect life, which has flourished here. Lichen gives the environment its distinctive red, orange, and green hues, and lithops, which look like stones, might be found nearby.

For quite some time, it was necessary to use a light aircraft to reach this far-flung region of the country. Tours by private vehicle are now available, though we highly recommend a spectacular flight over this lonely coastal area.

Inspect the rusty wrecks and the stark, rocky environment of the Skeleton Coast National Park while staying in one of the few deluxe lodges in the area. There aren't many places to stay, so it's no surprise that the area feels deserted and lonely.

You can take guided tours to explore bizarre rock formations like the Ugab Formations, which consist of massive, striped slabs of granite that have been twisted and eroded in the Ugab riverbed. Hoarusib Canyon is home to some interesting geological features, including some castle-like clay formations.

The wind-carved dunes may be arranged to be visited from most lodgings. The sound of an echoing roar, not from a nearby lion, but from the escape of air trapped between the sand grains as you walk, run, or drive across them is not uncommon. You can sandboard down the dunes, or ride a quad bike across them, for a more exhilarating experience.

Gemsbok (oryx), kudu, springbok, and jackals are just some of the animals you might see on a guided game drive through the vast desert plains and parched river basins.

To cope with the difficult conditions, animals have developed a wide variety of survival strategies, which your guides will explain to you. When an elephant needs water, it will dig in the sand to reach the underground rivers that supply it. The giraffe, lion, hyena, and baboons are among the opportunists that benefit from the deep wells they produce.

Plant and insect life is surprisingly diverse due to the coastal fog's ability to provide moisture. A lithops, a type of succulent that looks like a stone, could be in sight, and lichen would give the area vibrant splashes of color in shades of red, orange, and green.

Best time to visit the Skeleton Coast

Due to its status as a desert, the Skeleton Coast enjoys warm, dry days year-round, yet the region is sometimes plagued by cool evenings and damp mornings due to the prevalence of fog. Combining your trip with a safari in Etosha National Park is a fantastic idea; you'll have the most luck seeing wildlife between June and October, and the best luck seeing birds between November and April.

Suggested itineraries featuring the Skeleton Coast

While visiting the Skeleton Coast, there are a number of places to stay that we have chosen for you. Most of the places we stay at are recommended to us by friends and family because of their unique atmosphere, excellent service, or convenient location. Our professionals will always make an effort to recommend homes that suit your individual needs.