Skeleton Coast

The Skeleton Coast Park, approximately 2 million hectare (20 000 sq km) in size is one of the most remote and least visited places on earth and extends from the Kunene River on the northern Namibian border to the Ugab River near Cape Cross in the south. The area is located where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean on the northwest coast of Namibia and is named after the bleached whalebones and scattered remains of shipwrecks that washed up on its shores.

The Skeleton Coast Park is wild and barren, once an area feared due to its treacherous coastline is now a place of beauty and tranquility. This coastline park, obscured by mist, dates back to 1963 when used mainly for political reasons; few people are able to visit this protected area, and its mystery remains mostly intact.

Since the inception of the park in 1971 it has been managed by the conservation authorities as a wilderness area where development has been kept to a minimum and to which the public has limited access. The Skeleton Coast Park is a photographer's haven, unpredictable and dramatic and ideal for visitors seeking a true adventure.

The Skeleton Coast offers a cultural experience, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the area and discover the smaller desert wonders. Freshwater springs flood through the barren sands to create rare oases in the desert that sustain pockets of wildlife. The early morning mist off the Atlantic Ocean sustains a surprising amount of life, from larger mammals to the extraordinary Welwitschia plant.

Springbok, gemsbok (oryx), the rare desert-adapted elephant, brown hyena, black-backed jackal, and sometimes even lion and cheetah enter this harsh and barren region. The famous Cape fur seals are present in their thousands on the beaches, attracting predators as well. Birding in the area is good with over 200 species recorded including several of Namibia's desert endemic species such as Tractrac chat, Rüppell's korhaan and Gray's lark.

One of the most spectacular animals of this area are the desert-adapted lions. This is the only place on earth where guests stand to witness lions living on a coastline. These lions have an astounding traversing area and cover vast distances, quite unlike any other populations.