Skeleton Coast & Kunene River area Camps
Skeleton Coast National Park
The Skeleton Coast Park is one of our planet's most inhospitable, but hauntingly beautiful places - it is wild, desolate and uninhabited. It has everything from roaring sand dunes and windswept plains, to towering canyons and saltpans, and even one of the most productive fishing grounds anywhere.
Freshwater springs permeate through barren sands to create rare oases in the desert that sustain pockets of wildlife. Springbok, gemsbok (oryx), the rare desert elephant, ostrich, Cape fur seals, jackal and brown hyena - and even cheetah on rare occasions - eke out an existence in this rugged terrain, along with the vegetation like the ancient welwitschia plant which has adapted to the harsh conditions.
The arid desert environment in the Skeleton Coast is within the northern reaches of the Namib Desert. The Benguela current brings cold waters all the way from Antarctica and helps to moderate temperatures. The cool air off the ocean meets the hotter desert air and nearly every morning, a cool mist envelops the coastline, bringing life-sustaining moisture to the desert. By about 9 or 10 in the morning the sun's rays have burnt this mist off.
Skeleton Coast Camp
Skeleton Coast National Park
Wilderness Safaris operates this exclusive, luxury tented camp in a private area of 660,000 acres within the Skeleton Coast National Park. This is the place for all those who are looking for a true wilderness experience. The terrain is rugged and harsh and the scenery is some of the most spectacular in Southern Africa. The camp is built on an island in the dry Khumib riverbed, just inland from the Atlantic coastline. Each of the six tents is large, roomy and has a en-suite bathroom. A wonderful, old gnarled Leadwood tree offers shelter from the elements, and makes for a shady outdoor dining area.
The only way to get to this wild and beautiful place is by air. There are four or five day fly-in safaris with scheduled arrivals and departures on Wednesdays and Saturdays. From this camp base, daily excursions may include visits to the clay castles of the Hoarusib River, Rocky Point, the roaring dunes, lichen fields, seal colonies, Himba villages, shipwreck sites and secret water seeps that attract wildlife like oryx, springbok, giraffe, ostrich, brown hyena, jackal and other smaller mammals. Walking also plays a part in the activities; due to the pristine nature of this area many parts are accessible only on foot, as vehicle tracks can damage the environment.
Serra Cafema Camp
Kunene River
This is one of the most remote destinations in all of Africa, perched on the banks of the Kunene River near the northern border of Namibia. This area is home to the Himba people, some of the last true nomadic people of Africa. The camp is set under the shade of ancient Albia trees with views of the Kunene river valley. There are eight luxury chalets and one family unit, all designed to celebrate being at one with this extraordinary location. Each en-suite chalet has the living and sleeping area separated from the dressing and bathing area by Himba inspired curtain walls which are orchre red. You can fall asleep listening to the gurgling water sounds from the cataract downstream from camp.
Activities include traversing the sand dunes on carefully guided quad-bike excursions that tread lightly on the dunes, boating and birding on the Kunene River. Walking in the remote mountain and river valleys are also a highlight.
August, 2007 Update: Access to this remote camp will become easier in 2008 when Sefofane air transfers become available from Windhoek on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Private air charters can be arranged for other days.
November 2007 Update: The camp has been re-designed. Following months of research and participation from the semi-nomadic peoples of this area, the design team portrayed the locale, the striking geology and cultural uniqueness of Serra Cafema, and in so doing, paid homage to the Himba and respect to the culture and way of life of this unique and exceptional tribe.
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