Because of the thousands of shipwrecks and whale carcasses that litter its shores, the northern half of Namibia’s 976-mile coastline is referred to as the “Skeleton Coast.” This beautiful and expansive area is full of stories, surprises, and hidden gems while being so arid.
- The majority of it is land in national parks.
From the southern border of Angola to the Swakop River close to Swakopmund, the Skeleton Coast National Park has approximately 310 miles of coastline. There are clay castles in the Hoarusib region, salt pans close to Agate Mountain, and a sizable seal colony at Cape Cross in this 6,500 square mile park—possibly the longest, thinnest, and most hostile in Africa.2. There is restricted access
The southern portion of the park is open to anybody with a 4WD vehicle, although drivers are only permitted to travel as far as the Ugab River Gate, which is 196 kilometers from Swakopmund. The northern portion is only open to 800 guests annually. The only way to explore is through guided excursions, and access is tightly regulated.
- It is home to the Himba people.
The Skeleton Coast is by no means desolate; in fact, the 50,000-person Himba people reside in both Angola and Namibia’s northern region. They use an ocher-and-butter mixture that gives their skin its distinctive crimson color to protect it from the scorching sun.4. The roar of the dunes
The roar of the sand dunes can only be heard here on Earth by a fortunate, well-timed visitor. Many tourists gaze up, assuming an aircraft is passing overhead, because of the low rumble created by air trapped between billions of grains of sand.
- It is a cemetery for animals.
Death can be found anywhere along the Skeleton Coast because of the severe temperature and scarcity of water. Elephant rib cages, turtle shells, seal skulls, and whale vertebrae are among the relics of life scattered across the beach. The native Khoisan bushmen refer to the shoreline as “The Land God Made in Anger,” while the Portuguese dubbed it “The Gates of Hell.”
- It has well-known shipwrecks.
In addition to serving as an animal’s last resting place, the Skeleton Coast also houses the trophies of the spectral remnants of ships that it has destroyed. The Dunedin Star is among the most notable and eerie instances. The 530-foot British liner crashed on the coast in 1942; some claim it was a German U-boat, while others blame a rock. In the midst of the raging surf, attempt after attempt failed, and the rescue operation took 26 days. In the process, two crew members who were trying to conduct a rescue mission drowned. Its massive, rusted body is still there.
- Numerous people have been lost and never located.
Despite frantic efforts to survive, countless thousands of seafarers have been stranded on the Skeleton Coast. A dozen headless human skeletons were discovered arranged in a row in the 1940s. The words, “I am proceeding to a river 60 miles north, and should anyone find this and follow me, God will help him,” were written on a slate that was discovered nearby. The skeletons belonged to seamen from a ship that had sunk in 1860, eight decades prior.
- A huge colony of seals is present.
At Cape Cross Seal Reserve, up to 250,000 Cape fur seals congregate at any one time. On a 200-meter-long platform at the tourist center, you may watch them roar, relax in the sun, or engage in combat and mating. The greatest times to visit are in late November/early December, when hundreds of puppies are born in four weeks, and in mid-October, when males compete for breeding privileges.
- The surfing is excellent.
Even though the seas off the coast of Namibia are extremely cold, difficult to access, and teeming with sharks, tenacious surfers continue to hang ten there. Some of the world’s fiercest waves and longest barrels are produced by the southern Benguela current. Intrepid surfers can venture up to Skeleton Coast hotspots like Cape Cross and Ovahimba Point, but the majority of the best surf places are south of Swakopmund, around Luderitz and Walvis Bay. Many additional point breaks are primarily known through word-of-mouth.
- There are many wild creatures
The Skeleton Coast has its own unique way of life. Black-backed jackals, hyenas, lions, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, rhinos, and elephants, for instance, may all be found at Skeleton Coast National Park and are all suited to the climate. Be careful, these creatures can occasionally even be seen on beaches!