_The Skeleton Coast

Taking its name from the skeletal remains which were found on the beaches from whaling and seal hunts, the Skeleton Coast has been known to generate its fair share of human bones too.

This harsh coastline has been the resting place of numerous shipwrecks, with the fate of the sailors being of unimaginable hardship.

Canyons, sand dunes and mountains make up the terrain of the area, with numerous species of wildlife surprisingly being found suriving the conditions.

Highlights of the Skeleton Coast include:

Skeleton Coast accommodation

Photo: Mike Myers

Photo: Dana Allen

Isolation

The Skeleton Coast is way off the beaten track, and when visiting the area you can only imagine how feared the location was by the early sailors and explorers.

With Namibia having a tiny population as it is, even fewer people choose to call the Skeleton Coast home, and it is the perfect destination to get away from the real world.

Photo: Dana Allen

Shipwrecks

Famous for the numerous shipwrecks which are found washed up on the beaches or stranded on rocks out to sea, the Skeleton Coast has always been very difficult to navigate due to the harsh weather conditions and blinding fog.

Many tales have been told of sailors walking hundreds of miles into the interior looking for food and water after their ships have run aground, with the vast majority of them never being seen again.  For this reason the Portuguese named it "The Gates of Hell."

Photo: Dana Allen

The Wildlife

Remarkably, the Skeleton Coast is inhabitated by a huge variety and number of species, including desert adapted elephant, black rhino, lions, cheetah, gemsbok, zebra, springbok and spotted and brown hyenas.

Many species of birds are sighted within the area, and seals number their thousands along the beaches.