The Skeleton Coast Park is one of our planet’s most inhospitable, but hauntingly beautiful places – it is wild, desolate and uninhabited. It has everything from roaring sand dunes and windswept plains, to towering canyons and saltpans, plus seal colonies and one of the most productive fishing grounds anywhere. The Skeleton Coast Camp is one of the most remote and inaccessible areas anywhere in Africa.  Access is only by air. Guests have a choice of a four-day safari (departing every Wednesday), a five-day safari (departing every Saturday) and an eight-day safari (departing every Saturday). The arid desert environment in the Skeleton Coast is within the northern reaches of the Namib Desert. The Benguela current brings cold waters all the way from Antarctica and helps to moderate temperatures. The cool air off the ocean meets the hotter desert air and nearly every morning, a cool mist envelops the coastline, bringing life sustaining moisture to the desert. By about 9 or 10 in the morning the sun’s rays have burnt this mist off.

There are many regions in the Skeleton Coast. On this safari, you will visit the most isolated, beautiful, remote (and private) northern sector of the park, from just north of Mowe Bay to just south of the Kunene River. The Government and the park authorities lease out this northern third of the park for low volume, exclusive safaris.  In this whole section of the park, there are only 6 twin tents.  You will be miles from civilization in a private concession, which is close to 175,000 hectares in size (nearly 400,000 acres).

If you are not looking for this type of remoteness, then this is not your safari. If however, you are looking for a remote and isolated experience in some of Namibia's most spectacular scenery, then this is your safari.  Vast open plains, soaring canyons, roaring sand dunes; shipwrecks, and the spectacular coastline all make this an unforgettable and unique experience.  Fresh water springs permeate through barren sands to create rare oases in the desert that sustain pockets of wildlife. Springbok, Gemsbok (Oryx), the rare desert Elephant, Ostrich, Cape Fur Seals, Jackal and Brown Hyena – Lion and even Cheetah on rare occasions, eke out an existence in this rugged terrain, along with the vegetation like the ancient welwitschia which has adapted to the harsh conditions.  This however, is NOT a game viewing safari.

This is a true desert experience and we will be focusing on the desert, its unique ecology and its wonderful scenery. We will enjoy game viewing, but please understand that deserts by their very nature cannot host large concentrations of wildlife.

Each of the Skeleton Coast safaris are flying safaris, starting and ending in Windhoek. However once we arrive at the Skeleton Coast we spend all our time in vehicles. This safari can usually be combined with the Best of Namibia Wing Safari to create the Ultimate Namibian Safari.

The safari stays all nights at Skeleton Coast Camp. This is a six-roomed luxury tented camp in the heart of the reserve. Skeleton Coast Camp is built onto an island in a dry riverbed about 20km inland from the coastline. Each tent is large and roomy and has a bathroom en-suite. As a result of water shortages, it is unfortunately not possible to offer a laundry service. There is a wonderful old gnarled leadwood tree which offers shelter from the elements and this is the dining room for your outdoor meals.

This safari is unlike any other safari. The area is so vast and there is so much to see and experience that guests abandon the traditional early morning and afternoon activities. If you have the time available, make sure you book the five day safari.  The safari leaves camp after breakfast and spends the full day exploring the park. A picnic lunch is enjoyed out in the wild and you return to base camp in the late afternoon.   Travel is by 4x4 Land Rovers with pop-top roofs, and cover an extraordinary variety of terrain. Nature drives may include visits to the clay castles of the Hoarasub, Rocky Point, the roaring dunes, lichen fields, seal colonies, and remnants of shipwrecks.  Walking may also play a part in the activities. Due to the pristine nature of this area, many parts are accessible only on foot.  Many specially adapted species of plants like lithops and welwitschia can be visited in this way.

This safari will take you through one of Namibia's prime scenic areas. Travel by vehicle can be rough, sandy and dusty. Your accommodation will be in a comfortable tented camp that is fully staffed and all the chores are handled for you.  Even though this is a quality safari, the terrain is harsh, rough and rugged. All attempts will be made to make this safari as comfortable as possible, but there is no way of hiding from the elements.  At times guests can experience cold temperatures – and then 400m up the valley, encounter hot desert winds.  If this is not you are expecting, we respectfully suggest that you not book onto this safari.

Please note: Fresh water is in such short supply in the Skeleton Coast that there is only enough for showers and flush toilets, but not enough for laundry.

SAFARI NOTES:
• Group size for this safari is a minimum of two guests.  If you are a single traveler, check with us as there may already be a minimum of two guests booked.
• Scheduled departures every Wednesday and Saturday for the following durations:
     4 Days/3 Nights (depart Wednesday, return Saturday);
     5 Days/4 Nights (depart Saturday, return Wednesday);
• Optional pick up/drop off at Damaraland, Palwag, Okonjima or Swakopmund is included.  Pick up/drop off at Ongava is extra charge and minimum 2 persons.
• Luggage limitation of 20 kgs per person in a soft bag. This limit includes camera equipment and hand luggage.  Passengers weighing more than 100kg (220 lbs) must please advise us in advance, as an extra seat will then have to be costed into the package for safety purposes.
• Our safari departs Windhoek (international or Eros Airport) at approximately 10h00 hours.  All guests must arrive on either the Air Namibia flight from London or Frankfort, or on the earliest Air Namibia flight from Johannesburg to Windhoek (arriving 09h50).  Otherwise, it will be necessary to arrive in Windhoek the day before and overnight.
• The safari will end in Windhoek at 16h00; therefore, you will need to overnight in Windhoek or depart that evening and your earliest flight out should be no earlier than 18h00.
• Laundry service will not be available at Skeleton Coast Camp due to water shortages in this areas.

AGE LIMIT
There is a minimum age of 8 and no maximum age, but it is respectfully requested that only people who are of good health book onto the safari due to the remoteness of the location.  For guests with children under 8, we would be happy to arrange a private safari for you (subject to availability).

AIRCRAFT AND VEHICLES
The aircraft used for transfers to and from the Skeleton Coast will usually be a Cessna Caravan. The Cessna Caravan is a fast single engine aircraft, which takes 12 passengers and a pilot. The great advantage of the Caravan is that it has a high wing for great visibility on the wonderful and scenic flight into the park. The vehicles used will be closed Land Rovers with seats on the roof.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
This safari is an "all in" safari.  Included are charter flights from Windhoek back to Windhoek, all accommodation on a shared basis, all meals, all drives and activities; all park fees and all local drinks and wines are included in the cost of your safari (this excludes all champagnes, premium spirit brands, imported wines and imported liqueurs).

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Scheduled flights to and from Windhoek and the transfer to Eros Airport, accommodation in Windhoek or additional transfers if required, insurance, all items of a personal nature, gratuities, and any safari extensions are not included.

All Photos this page © Mike Myers - Wilderness Safaris

Top          Return to Scheduled Safari Packages