Skeleton Coast
The Skeleton Coast is one of the most hauntingly beautiful and remote places on Earth — a mysterious expanse where towering sand dunes descend into the icy Atlantic Ocean. Named for the shipwrecks and bleached whale bones that litter its shores, this wild frontier offers a surreal blend of fog, sand, sea, and silence.
Despite its harshness, the Skeleton Coast is brimming with life, history, and eerie charm. It’s a destination for those drawn to the extraordinary — the adventurers, the photographers, the dreamers.
Location
By Air: The best way to experience the northern Skeleton Coast is via fly-in safaris.
By Road: Southern portions can be accessed by 4×4 from Swakopmund. Access north of Terrace Bay is strictly controlled.
Best Time to Visit
May–October (Dry season): Ideal for desert elephant and wildlife tracking, clear skies, and best road conditions
November–April (Green season): Beautiful desert blooms and dramatic scenery, though some roads can be affected by rains
Top Highlights
Shipwreck Remains
The coastline is scattered with the ghostly remains of vessels — victims of fog, rough seas, and strong currents. Each tells a story of survival, loss, and time.
Cape Cross Seal Colony
Home to one of the largest colonies of Cape fur seals in the world, numbering over 100,000. A spectacle of sound, motion, and smell!
Desert Dunes & Oxidized Cliffs
The juxtaposition of golden dunes meeting crashing waves creates dramatic and cinematic scenery. Inland, you’ll find rust-colored mountains, dry riverbeds, and mysterious rock formations.
Hoanib Valley & Wilderness
Track desert-adapted lions, elephants, giraffes, and spotted hyenas in this remote sanctuary. Some of the Skeleton Coast’s best wildlife viewing happens far from the sea.
Wildlife
Though seemingly barren, the Skeleton Coast is rich in life:
Desert-adapted elephants and black rhinos
Brown hyenas, lions, and jackals
Giraffes, springbok, and oryx inland
Marine life: seals, seabirds, and occasional whales