Bare bones on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast

Namibia’s Skeleton Coast is one of its biggest attractions. Macabrely, people flock from far and wide to see the desolation and experience the climate that has killed thousands of people, whales and seals during the course of its existence. The Skeleton Coast has been called The Land God Made in Anger by the local Bushmen, and the Gates (or Coast) of Hell by the Portuguese sailors who once were tasked with sailing the coast. These days the Skeleton Coast is more famous for being a national park that serves a vital conservation purpose on Namibia.
The park has several things to see and do, not least of which is to walk along the beach to count the whale and seal skeletons, as well as the skeletons of wrecked ships, some of which are remarkably intact. It’s said that there are more than 1000 wrecks up and down the coast. The unique conditions on the coast – the cold Benguela ocean current meeting the unremitting heat of the shore – have resulted in a barren landscape that should, by rights, not support any life. But the miles of rolling dunes have spawned a variety of well adapted animals, one of the most famous of which is the desert-adapted elephant. These elephants can be seen plodding the dunes in their daily search of water and food, seemingly unperturbed by the sand, wind and sun.

There are also coastal lions that feed on the seals that come ashore, as well as the occasional beach whale. They are also sustained by the antelope which have adapted to the searing conditions. While you traverse the park you should keep an eye out for the endemic Gerrhosaurus skoogi, a curiously named lizard with armour plates that wanders the desert looking for !nara melons. At the mouth of the Kunene River you should keep your eyes peeled for some Nile soft-shelled turtles. Lastly, the gemstone beaches around Möwe Bay are well worth a visit. The beach is covered in a dazzling array of semi-precious gemstones, but be warned, you aren’t allowed to take any home with you.www.vacation.co.za/en/Countries/Namibia.co.za