Discover the Skeleton Coast

A mariner’s nightmare and an angler’s paradise the coastal stretch between the Swakop and Kunene Rivers offers solitude and harsh beauty to the adventurous traveller. Gale-force winds, crosscurrents, sandbanks, reef, rough surf, fog and an inhospitable coastline of sand and gravel produced a notorious reputation among sailors. However the icy Bengula current attracts a great variety and amount of marine life attracting anglers from around the globe.

Above the water surface you’ll find miles of deserted coastline. If you don’t mind the somewhat harsh conditions this area is perfect for long hikes. Go searching for shipwrecks, watch the birdlife, get tossed around by the wind and let mother nature give you some tough love.

The area is divided into the National West Coast Recreation Area between Swakopmund and the Ugab River. No permits are needed and people come to fish or to see the seals at cape cross. There is also a 40km hiking trail. The Skeleton Coast Park above Ugabmund is open to the public as far as the Hoanib River. Permits are required and accommodation must be booked with the Namibia Wildlife Resort beforehand.

Shipwrecks

This area was feared by sailors since the beginning of time. There are more than a thousand ships wrecked on the coastline, among them the Dunedin Star, Eduard Bohlen and the Otavi. Find some of these traces of history in this awe-inspiring landscape. There is a small museum in Möwe Bay maintained by the last ranger before you hit no-man’s land.

Fishing

The Bengula current brings a high density of marine life and rock and surf angling don’t get much better than this. The Skeleton Coast National Park boasts species such as

• Cob
• West Coast Steenbras
• Galjoen
• Blacktail
• Copper and Spotted Gully-Shark

Wildlife

The Anglers aren’t the only ones attracted to the Skeleton Coast’s vast fish supply. The colony of Cape Fur Seals at Cape Cross is one of the largest in the world. Up to 250,000 animals have been counted in the colony. They breed in November, when jackals patrol the beach for abandoned pups and afterbirth.

The area is also known for its larger mammals who have adjusted to the harsh conditions. Elephants, various antelope, zebra and lions brave the shortage of water and the arid land. A critically endangered species of the area is the black rhinoceros. Almost driven into extinction by poaching, conservationists are now removing the rhino’s horns, which leaves no value for the poachers and doesn’t affect the animals behaviour.
The rich marine life and arid land is home to many species of birds. Look out for threatened species such as the damara tern and the lappetfaced vulture.