The Skeleton Coast conjures up mysterious visions of mist-enshrouded beaches strewn with bleached whalebones and rusted shipwrecks. Stretching from the south of Namibia up into Angola, the Skeleton Coast and its hinterland is a landscape of haunting beauty, a vast area of rolling sand dunes, expanses of uninhabited desert plains, fossil beds, unique geological formations, desert-adapted animals and strange vegetation.
As members of the Schoeman family who grew up there, they have the very secrets of the Skeleton Coast etched on their souls and would like to share with you the uniqueness of this remote wilderness. Everything is planned to surprise and delight adventurous souls. They use their own aircraft as a safari vehicle to transport you from one place of special interest to another, flying at “see” level to give you a breathtaking view before you land and explore by Land Rover or on foot.
You are invited to reflect on the beauty and solitude of the surrounding desert while relaxing in comfortable, fully equipped tented camps. This is an experience you will always remember…..
During the course of this safari, you will experience fascinating bird’s-eye views of shipwreck remains along the coast, diverse and ever-changing geological formations and the refuges of desert-dwelling animals such as the endangered black rhino and desert-adapted elephant. As our guest, you are taken on excursions by aircraft and Land Rover vehicles to be introduced to the scenic and ecological aspects of the environment with its wide diversity of flora and fauna.
Day 1 Haub River Valley
Day 2 Kunene Region
Day 3 Hartmann Valley
Day 4 Kunene Region
- Desolate skeleton coastline
- Roaring sand dunes
- Ugab rock formations
- Ancient rock engravings
- The living “fossil” tree
- Nomadic Himba people
- Hartmann Valley
DAY 1 SKELETON COAST – Huab River Valley
We meet at Eros Airport, Windhoek at 10h00 for departure to the Skeleton Coast via Conception Bay. The Kuiseb canyon and adjoining red dunes are a spectacular view from the air. The flight includes an aerial view of the famous Eduard Bohlen shipwreck at Conception Bay.
After landing and refuelling at Swakopmund, we continue with a low-level flight north along the Skeleton Coast past the seal colony at Cape Cross for a light picnic lunch near the beach. After lunch we cross the desert by aircraft to the Ugab formations, a nearly lifeless ‘moon landscape’ of numerous black ridges in stark contrast to the white desert floor. From here we proceed to our Kuidas camp in the Huab River Valley where we stay for the night. Ancient rock engravings are found amongst the rocks within walking distance of the camp.
Overnight: Kuidas Camp (B, L, D, Local Beverages)
DAY 2 SKELETON COAST – Kunene Region
After breakfast we depart by Land Rover to explore the colorful red lava and yellow sandstone of the Huab River environs and to be introduced to the ecological aspects of this area with its wide diversity of flora and fauna. This includes the Welwitschia Mirabilis, a tree that has been dwarfed by the rigours of the encroaching desert climate. We have lunch at Kuidas camp before flying along the coast to Terrace Bay in the Skeleton Coast Park. The most prominent shipwrecks along this part of the coast are the Montrose and Henrietta.
At the coast we access the roaring dunes by Land Rover, which always proves to be a stimulating experience. We also visit the beach with its profusion of multicolored pebbles consisting of agate, lava, granite and quartz. Interesting to see are old bleached whale bones scattered along the beach above the high tide mark. We return to the aircraft and continue north to our Leylandsdrift camp in the Hoarusib Valley in the Kunene Region, where we stay for the night.
Overnight: Leylandsdrift Camp (B, L, D, Local Beverages)
DAY 3 SKELETON COAST – Hartmann Valley
After breakfast we embark on a scenic drive along the Hoarusib Valley to visit a settlement of the nomadic Himba people. We might be lucky enough to come across the desert-dwelling elephant who frequent this valley. From here we continue north along the Skeleton Coast by aircraft to the Kunene River acting as a border to Angola. The Kaiu Maru shipwreck and pieces from old sailing vessels lie scattered along this part of the coast. From the airfield we take a scenic drive by Land Rover to our favorite lunch site. After lunch we continue through the mountains and dunes of the Hartmann Valley – which extends to the Kunene River – reaching our Kunene River camp in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Kunene River Camp (B, L, D, Local Beverages)
DAY 4 SKELETON COAST – Kunene Region
Your Skeleton Coast safari ends early this morning with a boat trip on the Kunene River, flowing through scenic desert landscape, observing bird life and possibly some crocodiles. Birds vary from aquatic species on the perennial waters, to endemic desert varieties and those that inhabit dense riverine vegetation. After lunch at the camp, we fly back to Eros Airport, Windhoek, arriving in the late afternoon.
