CREEPING IN THE FOG OF SKELETON COAST
To those who love a good dose of goose bumps: listen and shiver! In the northwest of the country, where sea and desert meet… you will find the Skeleton Coast. Because the warm desert air here often collides with the cold air of the Antarctic Benguela Current, this coast is often shrouded in thick, spooky fog. Many ships have sunk because of the fog, and you will find countless remains of shipwrecks on this beach and in the sea.
In addition to the shipwrecks, you will find other skeletons here, namely those of whales. Portuguese explorers christened this area ‘The Sands of Hell’. Many a sea lion and whale has perished here as well, which is why you regularly stumble over the skeletons of dead sea creatures during a nice walk on the beach. Terrifying, but also incredibly mysterious and surreal. Fortunately, there is also some life to be found in Namibia: colonies of thousands of sea lion families live on this beach and, if you are lucky, you can spot the rare brown hyena. A bizarre sight to see such a predator on the beach! That makes up for it somewhat…
WHAT'S ALIVE?
Along the Skeleton Coast lies Cape Cross Seal Reserve, a reserve with the largest seal colony in the world. Some 150,000 to 210,000 seals live here, yes you read that correctly. No matter how endlessly you want to watch them, they make a deafening noise and smell like rotten fish. Along the entire coast you can spot many seals and in Walvis Bay you can even kayak with seals. Read more about this special activity here.
THE MOST REMOTE AND IMPASSABLE COASTLINE IN THE WORLD
This coast is an isolated piece of land where you can unfold your tent in complete peace and enjoy the most spectacular views. Very special! In December and January, you can camp on the beach at Torra Bay. You will wake up with the roar of the wild sea. Along this coast, you will not find any cosy coffee bars or restaurants, it is really deserted. If you are looking for something more lively, it is best to drive in the direction of Swakopmund.
