FAQs About Skeleton Coast

This deserted corner of North-western Namibia protects myriad charms beneath a façade of sun-baked desolation, The Skeleton Coast is the northern part of the Atlantic coast of Namibia running for 500 kilometers south from the birder with Angola.

The Skeleton Coast National Park is named for the metal ribs of ships that have fallen foul of this treacherous coast and its enveloping fog. These shipwrecks are one of the sights worth discovering, travelers get encounter raucous seal colonies and spot several desert-adapted wildlife including elephants, rhinos, lions, hyenas among others.

The highlight of the park is the enigmatic landscape of lonely beaches and shifting sands.

For visitors planning to a trip to the one of the most unusual and dramatic coastlines in Africa, we have taken the liberty to answer some of the frequently asked questions about Skeleton Coastal National Park by travelers.

Why visit the Skeleton Coast?

The ominous name of the park has its origins in the spice trade routes, where wary sailors passed along the desolate coastline of Namibia on their way to and from India. Hindered by blinding sea fog prevalent off the coast, many ships met an unsightly end giving rise to a ship graveyard of ships littered along the shore and favored by photographers as well as nature-lovers.

Scenic flights are also popular in the area offering visitors a bird’s eye view of the maritime cemetery below.

The Atlantic ocean is a seasonal playground for the whale, seal and sea lion, while further inland, the riverbeds are populated by the lion, giraffes, springbok, rhino and baboons. The vast and contrasting topography of the land ranges from towering dunes, ancient Welwitschia plants, desert, lichen fields, flowering stones (also known as lithops) and clay hills dotted along the Hoarusib River.

How to get to the Skeleton Coast?

Skeleton Coast National Park is located within Namibia and is found on its long stretch of coastline of the western border. The best option to get to this treacherous coastal part of the country is by flying into Hosea Kutako International Airport.

From here, you have two options to get there, either hire your won vehicle and do a self-drive tour which is the most common way travelers experience Namibia. Or take a scheduled tour. If you want to spend as much time as possible at the destination, a fly-in option is for you.

If you are seeking for more adventuring to truly feel like you are in Africa and have visions of becoming like Indian Jones, consider a road trip.

Choose your vehicle (2×4 or 4×4 recommended, depending on your itinerary route). Get a map or GPS, and head out in the open road. The good thing is Namibia is one of the best places for a self-drive safari, the landscapes are incredible and unlike anywhere on earth and the roads are long and safe.

Once you land in Namibia, you do not need to head straight to Skeleton Coast National Park. There are plenty of places to go and attractions to visit along the way, so make a week or two-week holiday in Namibia.

Is the Skeleton Coast in a national park, and are there any animals?

The Skeleton Coast National Park is one of the largest national parks in Namibia stretching 40 km and 500 km in length, the park is slightly different from the Kruger National Park in South Africa or Masai Mara National Park in Kenya where the main attraction is wildlife.

The unique scenery and devastatingly fascinating coastline is the one of the main reasons visitors come to Skeleton Coast National Park.

There are still animals in the Skeleton Coast National Park, although much scarcer, these include the famous desert – adapted elephants which are one of the most fascinating animals to see on the planet. One would think that finding something as large as an elephant would be easy, but in Skeleton Coast – one of the oldest and largest deserts, you can think twice.

Other animals to look out for in Skeleton Coast National Park include the desert lion, brown hyena, endangered rhinos and the playful cape fur seal (known as the dogs of the sea). If you have the chance to go diving or snorkeling alongside these curious creatures, you will enjoying seeing them and get to know why.

Overall, when you enter the Skeleton Coast National Park, you can expect to see a lot of white sand, towering dunes and a long stretch of coast (when you eventually get to the ocean). From beginning to end, it is an adventure you will never forget.

When is the best time to visit the Skeleton Coast?

The best time of the year to enjoy Namibia and its fascinating desert is during the warmer months. The summer months might be during your winter, so check on this.

Namibia’s summer months are between October and March, and the days are warmer.

The best to visit the Skeleton Coast National Park, however is between July and August. In these months the chances of rain are low, and the temperatures are pleasant, averaging 21°C (70°F).

This season has become the most popular time of the year to travel to Namibia, so plan in advance like a year.

December through March can get a bit wet with all the rain, but if you can withstand the elements, this is the ideal time to go. The rain puts off most travelers, so they tend to avoid these months. Little do they know that the best things are yet to come. The rains transform the dry desert into green blankets and attract all of the wildlife to its gourmet buffet.

The Skeleton Coast is known for its many shipwrecks along the coast and it is notoriously foggy. The summer months (although rainy) are surprisingly warmer, and the rain clears the mist like a drop curtain, so this is an ideal time to visit the Skeleton Coast.

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