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Shipwreck Lodge

Skeleton Coast Vacations

The perfect safari holiday on the Skeleton Coast

Remote, wild, desolate but beautiful stretch of coastline

Unusually named and eerie to visit, the Skeleton Coast runs for over 500kms from the Swakop River all the way north to the Kunene River, which marks Namibia’s border with Angola. The coastline is the point where the hot desert air meets the cold ocean currents, often resulting in a thick shroud of mist, adding to the other-worldly feel to a visit here.

Indeed, it is these mists that have contributed to the name ‘Skeleton Coast’, as it is littered with wrecks from ships that strayed too close to the shore when making their passage along the African continent. These shipwrecks, along with bleached whale skeletons, led to the name being coined in 1944 by John Henry Marsh as he wrote a book about the Dunedin Star, one of the vessels that met her fate along the coast. Other prominent wrecks include the Eduard Bohlen, Benguela Eagle and Otavi.

One of the most unique features of a Skeleton Coast holiday is that, despite its foreboding location and an almost complete absence of rainfall (just 10 millimetres a year), it is home to an amazing array of wildlife. Whilst not common sights, visitors may be fortunate enough to see elephants strolling across the coastal dunes and lion or hyena feeding on dead seals along the wild, surf-lashed beaches.

Despite its fame, there has been little opportunity to visit the Skeleton Coast until relatively recently, with just a handful of simple coastal resorts found at its southern tip and the exclusive flying safaris operated by the Schoeman brothers being the only way to see it. That has all changed, with two luxury desert camps, as well as a unique offering perched on the coastal dunes, now open and welcoming visitors to this incredible area for a luxury Skeleton Coast tour. The whole area really is a microcosm of Namibia as a whole: wild, remote, with few people, incredible landscapes and desert-adapted wildlife that, despite all the odds, thrives in an area where few humans have ever set foot. This really is a true bucket list destination, and however you choose to experience it, you will be utterly captivated by the dramatic landscapes and hardy wildlife.

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AC

Far and Wild went above and beyond to make sure my trip to Zambia was special. I would definitely recommend them and their services to anyone wanting to travel to Africa.

Jun 5, 2024
Tiny

Lovely holiday at the amazing Almanara on Galu beach, a beach like no other. Far and Wild excelled themselves from beginning to end of our holiday in beautiful Kenya.... What a country!,

Jun 5, 2024
Stodge

Wow! These guys are amazing. Can’t recommend them highly enough. Friendly AND efficient! Sorted out our trip (last minute and lots of different family member needs, sorry!) in record time and everything worked like clockwork. Trip of a lifetime to the Masai Mara. Will be back (and use F&W again!)!

Jun 5, 2024
Fiona C

It was a dreamy holiday on the Kenyan Coast - Far and Wild, their efficiency and professionalism allowed us to relax and be the happiest family alive !! We cannot fault them, their care and understanding of what we wanted from a holiday ensured we had the most memorable trip. We will be booking with them again for sure!

Jun 5, 2024

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