Windswept sand dunes and rugged canyons
Northern Namibia, Namibia
The Skeleton Coast has one of wildest, windswept and most unusual coastlines in the world. Stretching between Swakopmund in the south to the far north west of the country where the Kunene River reaches the sea. The stark beauty of this stretch of coast is something only to be seen as few visitors find the words to deliver an adequate description of their experience.
The area designated as a National Park starts at Ugabmund in the south, about 200 km north of Swakopmund, and continues north to Mowe Bay (where the last of park officials are situated). North of this point the park is only accessible through scheduled tours undertaken by the organisation that holds the concession rights. The park is highly sensitive environmentally and strict measures are taken against trespasser.
The area to the south of Mowe Bay includes Terrace and Torra Bay. Terrace Bay, previously a diamond mining settlement, offers limited accommodation, while Torra Bay is a seasonal camping area that is mostly frequented during the holiday season in December, when it attracts many local angling enthusiasts. These areas are only accessible to overnight visitors.
Day visitors must ensure that they leave the park by 1700 when gates close, the minimum crossing time from Ugabmund to the eastern Springbokwasser gate is two hours.
Background
The name dates back to the early 1930’s when the publisher of a South West Annual, Mr. Sam Davis, stated in an article concerned with a missing plane of a local celebrity, that “his bones will forever lay on the coast of skeletons”, referring to the many wrecks found on the coast, hence the name stuck. The Skeleton Coast boasts a fascinating history and one will deeply appreciate the solitude and unpredictable weather when accompanied by a local of the region that can take you into past events and the means of survival that living things in the area have adapted.
The Skeleton Coast Park was formed in 1973 and extends from the Ugab River in the south to the Kunene River in the north. A permit is needed to drive in the park and can be obtained from the MET office in Swakopmund or at the Ugab and Springbokwasser Gates.