Skeleton Coast National Park- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

The Skeleton Coast, a 40 km wide and 500 km long stretch in Namibia, stands as a formidable yet captivating region where the cold, unpredictable Benguela Current of the Atlantic Ocean collides with the dune and desert landscape of north-western Namibia. Its name likely originates from the numerous stranded whales whose skeletal remains are scattered along the shore, a haunting reminder of nature's might. The Ovahimba people in the far northeastern parts of Namibia ingeniously used these whale bones to construct their huts. The coast is notorious for its treacherous conditions: thick fog, rough seas, unpredictable currents, and stormy winds have led many ships to their doom, and the sailors who survived the wrecks often perished from thirst in this inhospitable environment. Despite its harsh nature, the Skeleton Coast teems with wildlife uniquely adapted to the desert. Visitors might encounter desert-adapted elephants, rhinos, desert lions, brown hyenas, jackals, giraffes, seals, oryx, kudus, and zebras. Remarkably, certain plant species thrive here by relying solely on the daily fog from the Atlantic Ocean. These include the ancient welwitschias, !Nara melons, lithops succulents often referred to as "living stones", lichen, and pencil bush. The Skeleton Coast Park is divided into two sections. The southern part, extending from the Ugab River to Torra Bay, is freely accessible, though permits are required beyond Ugabmund and Springbockwater gates, obtainable in Windhoek, Swakopmund, or at the gates. The northern part, stretching from Torra Bay to the Kunene at the Angolan border, is off-limits to the general public and can only be accessed through a tour operator with the necessary concession and qualifications, offering the most captivating experiences within the park.