• Stunning and atmospheric coastline

The Skeleton Coast was given its name for the eerie shipwrecks on the isolated, detached shores of Northern Namibia. This park covers 2 million-hectares (20,000²km) of the most inhospitable and least visited places on earth... The attraction to the Skeleton Coast is its untouched and mysterious barren beauty, swept by cold sea breezes which often enveloped in a dense fog. It is this very fog that has caused so many shipwrecks in the past - leaving the mysteries and remains of mariners from lifetimes past.

The temperatures between October and May are surprisingly cool compared to the hot and arid region just south. There is a strong wind that blows between May and September, covering the coast with mist and lowering the temperature significantly. Although it never drops below freezing at the coast, it can become very cold during the winter months - especially at night. It rarely rains, but the constant sea mist gives moisture to the plant and animal life there.

There are many different types of sand dunes in this area. The hummock dunes, transverse dunes and crescent dunes all appear with grand range - full of billions of tiny granules which is surrounded by rugged canyons and richly coloured volcanic rock. Such is the extraordinary geology of this area, that some beaches contain a profusion of multi-coloured pebbles consisting of agates, lava, granites and others. The ancient fossil plant, Welwitschia, is also found in this region.

More things to see in this area include: desert elephants, desert Oryx, springbok, giraffe, brown hyena, ostrich, rare black rhino, and even the lion which is found further inland. The nearby seal colony holds several thousand Cape fur seals, as well as whales and dolphins. The eerie shipwrecks are a sight to behold. An aerial view of the canyons, coast, dunes and wrecks is an amazing way to experience this region, with photographic opportunities galore. And finally, the Himba tribe is unquestionably a highlight of this area.

The Himba Tribe
While no one can live on this inhospitable coast, the nomadic Himba tribe resides further inland not far from this barren desolate tract. The Himba people are beautiful, elegant and mysterious people. They wear simple goatskins, and jewellery made from leather, metal and shells. They adorn and protect their bodies and hair with rich ochre mud mixed with animal fat. This gives them protection from the elements in the area, and coats their skin in a thick aesthetic layer of tribal make up. Amazingly, the Himba people appear striking and magnificent looking due to their skin treatment - creating a quiet, elegant beauty that reflects their traditions and culture.