Named after the numerous bones that littered its shore during the age of whaling, the Skeleton Coast might have called as such after the carcasses of grounded ships – and often those that sailed within them – that punctuate the shoreline. There’s no denying that there is something eerie and ethereal about the Skeleton Coast but it is also a place of stunning beauty.

Waves roll in from the clear blue ocean, encountering the empty yellow expanses of dunes and desert. There is a certain purity about the Skeleton Coast that you will want to try and capture with your camera. Totally arid, the few plants that can survive here do so by absorbing moisture from the fogs that roll in off the ocean. And despite the expanses appearing to be empty of all wildlife, there is a surprising variety of life here, from desert birds and lizards, right up to elephants, lions and rhinos.

At 16,000km2 (6,200mi2), the Skeleton Coast national Park occupies a huge area and one of the best ways to see it is by light aeroplane. Trekking along it is not for the faint-hearted and there is a good reason why local Bushmen call the area ‘The Land God Made in Anger’. Over a thousand ships have been grounded here, often due to the fogs and submerged offshore rocks, and survivors did not usually make it far inland before the water ran out.

Any visit to Namibia would be incomplete without a visit to the Skeleton Coast. A photographer’s dream, once you see it you will never forget it.

Below you can see our tours to Namibia. If you would like to visit the Skeleton Coast contact us and we can arrange your tour for you.