The Skeleton Coast runs along Namibia's Atlantic shoreline towards the Angolan border — a place named for the whale and seal bones and the many shipwrecks scattered along a treacherous coastline, sustained by moisture rolling in off the cold Benguela Current. It is internationally known for its population of desert-adapted lions, alongside elephant, black rhino, giraffe and Hartmann's mountain zebra, species that have learned to survive on fog moisture and the sparse vegetation of the river valleys that cut through to the coast.
The accessible southern section can be reached by road from Henties Bay and Torra Bay, including the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, while the remote northern wilderness is reached only by guided safari or light-aircraft charter — a genuinely isolated corner of Namibia best suited to travellers who want to get far off the beaten path.
Full detail on access, permits and wildlife along the Skeleton Coast →
Camps & lodges on the Skeleton Coast
Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
Hoanib River, Skeleton Coast boundaryOne of the strongest high-end safari properties in northern Namibia, with access to both the Skeleton Coast and the Hoanib River.
Shipwreck Lodge
Inside Skeleton Coast National ParkThe signature accommodation of the Skeleton Coast and one of the most distinctive safari lodges in Namibia.
Terrace Bay Resort
Northern public coastal road, Skeleton Coast National ParkOne of the most remote accommodation facilities in Namibia — a wilderness and fishing resort deep inside the park.
Six landscapes, one extraordinary desert country.
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