Skeleton Coast Camp

 

The Skeleton Coast Park is one of our planet’s most inhospitable yet hauntingly beautiful places. It is wild, desolate and uninhabited. It has everything from roaring sand dunes, windswept plains, towering canyons, and salt pans to seal colonies, shipwrecks and even one of the most productive fishing grounds found anywhere.

 

Freshwater springs permeate through barren sands to create rare oases in the desert that sustain pockets of wildlife. Springbok, Gemsbok (Oryx), the Desert Elephant, Ostrich, Jackal and Brown Hyena eke out an existence in the rugged terrain, along with vegetation like Welwitschia that has adapted to the harsh conditions.

 

The arid desert environment in the Skeleton Coast is within the northern reaches of the Namib Desert. The Benguela current brings cold waters all the way from Antarctica and helps to moderate temperatures. The cool air off the ocean meets the hotter desert air and nearly every morning, a cool mist envelops the coastline, bringing life sustaining moisture to the desert. There are many regions in the Skeleton Coast.

 

On these safaris, we visit the most isolated, beautiful, remote (and private) northern sector of the park, from just north of Mowe Bay to just south of the Kunene River. This area has been set aside by the government for low volume, exclusive safaris. Even though this is a “Five Paw” safari, the terrain is harsh, rough and rugged.

 

Staff members do try and make this as comfortable as possible, but have no way of hiding from the elements. Sometimes you can experience cold temperatures – and then 400m up the valley, you encounter hot desert winds. This is not a safari for the faint-hearted, but it will be enjoyed by those who are looking for a true wilderness experience, in some of the most spectacular scenery in southern Africa.

 

Area mainly renowned for physical beauty and not for game viewing. The stark contrast between the harsh environment and the animals that inhabit it, make this area spectacular. Possible wildlife one can see include: Oryx, Springbok, Giraffe, Ostrich, Cape Fur Seals, Brown Hyena, Jackals, Cape Fox, Bat Eared Fox, Honey Badger and Genet as well as Cheetah and Desert Elephant. Many fascinating desert species of plants. Bird watching also good with many of the Namibian endemic species occurring in the area.

Number of tents: 6 guest tents. This camp can accommodate 12 guests only.

Tent details: Tents are large luxury “Meru” style. Tents have doors and wooden floors. En-suite bathrooms with shower, wash basin and toilet inside the tent. Guests are requested to keep water usage to a minimum. Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each tent.

Dinner – local Namibian game dishes and fresh cape salmon caught by the guests and cooked on an open fire.