Skeleton Coast Park

Skeleton Coast National Park

Formerly known as South West Africa, Namibia has a coastline which stretches 1570 kilometers from its southern border with South Africa, the Orange River to its northern most border with Angola, the Kunene River. At one point the entire Namibian coastline was referred to as the Skeleton Coast, but now only the top third of the coastline is referred to as the Skeleton Coast National Park. The park stretches from the Kunene River in the north down approximately 500km to the Ugab River in the south.

The name itself often draws attention, The Skeleton Coast. It was derived from the bones that lined the beaches from whaling operations and seal hunts and legend has it that not all of those bones were animal, some were even human. But its greatest association is that of its many shipwrecks, and some even famous ones. Ever since European navigators first discovered Namibia, ships have been wrecked on it's off-shore rocks, or run aground in the blinding fog. Stories are told by the locals of shipwrecked sailors who walked for hundreds of kilometers through the barren Namibian landscape in search of food and water, and that maybe some of those bones on the beaches belonged to them. But there are not only biological remains, some of those skeletons are the remains of the wrecked ships, some barely recognizable while others are still in remarkably good condition. Some of the wrecks also provide excellent shelter for Cape fur seals, living side by side with seabird colonies, these unique habitats offer unequaled maritime photographic opportunities. Some of the wrecks which should be made note of include the Dunedin Star, the Islander, Suiderkus, Sir Charles Elliot and the Kaio Maru. The Seal and Luanda can be seen near Toscanini and the Atlantic Pride lies near Torra Bay. But its not quite a self drive safari, for the best views of these shipwrecks, you would need to visit the Skeleton Coast Park either on a fly-in safari or alternatively on a scenic flight.

The Skeleton Coast National Parks landscape includes sand dunes, canyons and mountain ranges and its climate is also not quite what one would expect of a desert. Dense fog and cold sea breezes roll in off the Atlantic, caused by a cold current which flows offshore known as the Benguela Current, The fog is caused when the cold breezes meet with the extreme heat of the Namib Desert. And despite its stark appearance the park has a greater variety of species than many other parks in Southern Africa. Some of the large mammals in the park include Namibia's famous desert-adapted elephant, black rhino, lion, cheetah, giraffe, gemsbok, zebra, springbok and spotted and brown hyena. Most of these animals are found in the dry river beds which run from the interior of Namibia, through the Namib Desert to the coastline.

But its not just large mammals that thrive in the desert environment, there are also reptiles that provide many curiosities in the park. Reptiles include the near endemic Gerrhosaurus skoogi, an armour-plated lizard that prowls the sand-dune sea in search of vegetation detritus and !Nara melon bushes. It is a large, striking reptile that can measure up to 30 centimetres long and can weigh up to 120gms.

The mouth of the Kunene River marks the southernmost breeding territory of the 1m long green turtle as well as being home to the only Southern African population of Nile soft-shelled turtles. Caution is advised in their company, as they can be aggressive. It is also adviseable to exercise caution on the Kunene River as well as out into the Atlantic at its mouth because the current pushes fresh water kilometers out to sea and often carries with it crocodiles from the Kunene.

There have been over 247 various species of birds recorded in the Skeleton Coast National Park, including the near endemic Damara Tern, which nests and breeds on the gravel plains adjacent to the coast. Cetacea or marine mammals which can be spotted off-shore include the endemic Benguela dolphin, killer whales and humpback whales. There are also occasionally beach-combing lions the search the area for marine carrion, one record tells of a pride of lions that were seen feeding on a beached whale at Torra Bay.

Some of the parks most notable geological features include gemstone beaches, salt or brine pans and dunes. The gemstone beaches are polished and smooth, caused by years of constant wave action, this is particularly attractive around Mowe Bay, where the beaches gleam with a multi-coloured carpet of semi-precious stones, including red and maroon garnets, agate, quartzes, amethysts, magnetite (a form of gleaming black iron ore that is magnetic,) ilmenite (which contains titanium) and carnelians. Please note that taking anything out of the park is strictly prohibited.

Day visitors to the Skeleton Coast Park are only allowed in the park between sunrise and sunset, and permits are available at the two entry gates (the Ugab River in the south and Springbokwasser in the east). The ecologically sensitive area north of Terrace Bay is inaccessible to the general public and entrance to this area is restricted to a few operators who operate fly-in safaris around Namibia.