Namibia | Skeleton Coast Traverse

The tour group meets at St Nowhere Spa & Campsite in the afternoon where the Bhejane crew will be waiting with your tents already set up. Each vehicle must ensure that all final logistical details (filling of fuel tanks, Jerry cans and water containers, etc.) are done before meeting at the turn-off to St Nowhere. Making sure nothing is left to chance as we will be heading into the wilderness the following day. The evening is spent around the campfire meeting our fellow travelers and the crew. At dinner time we'll discuss the route itinerary and what to expect on our first day on the road.

After early morning breakfast we leave St Nowhere Spa & Campsite and head north on the salt road. On the road today we'll encounter barren landscapes which has been the site of diamond, mineral and guano mining operations for many decades. We also catch a glimpse of the infamous coastline that has claimed dosens of shipwrecks over many centuries.

We enter the Skeleton Coast National Park at the Ugab River entrance gate and soon after we stop for lunch along the road. We venture past Toscanini and on to Terrace Bay where we refuel our vehicles one last time. We carry on past Möwe Bay and cross over the Hoarusib River before pitching our camp for the evening in the area of the Khumib River.

A hearty breakfast is the perfect fuel to prepare us for today's venture towards the Kunene River mouth. The journey involves pure beach driving past the Sarusas crystal mine, remnants of Strand Loper settlements, Angra Fria, huge salt pans and the famous Dunedin Star wreck site Shortly after we have pass Bosluis Bay we will reach the Kunene River mouth. The spectacular river mouth is home to expansive wetlands with over 72 different bird species, Nile crocodiles and even soft-shelled terrapins.

After a long day of driving we relax around the fire in the evening and discuss the challenge of how to relax the next day! On the schedule for the following day is another visit to the Kunene River mouth to experience it in different conditions followed by sundowners at a viewpoint in the dunes. Later we discuss the challenge of crossing the dunes into the Hartmann's Valley the following day.

Today's adventure is a full day of dune-driving in an easterly direction towards the Hartmann’s Valley. Our aim is to pitch our next camp as close to the thundering Kunene River as possible and naturally we'll be taking the scenic route to get there. We aim to arrive in the early afternoon in order to have enough time for sightseeing as this is a truly glorious setting!

After waking up in one of the most beautiful campsites you'll ever experience, another day in the dunes await as we make our way to the wondrous Hartmanns Valley. We eventually exit the dunes and spend the night in the stunning valley. Around the campfire we share memories of the past few days as the rugged coastline is now behind us and the second part of our journey, southward through the interior of the Skeleton Coast, starts in earnest the following morning.

We make an early start and head south through the Hartmann's Valley and along the eastern border of the Skeleton Coast National Park. Our next overnight stop is at Puros, a community campsite with donkie showers and lovely large shade trees on the banks of the Hoarusib River.

Today's drive will vary from sandy riverbeds to rocky jeep tracks. We have a good chance at spotting wildlife including zebra, giraffe and possibly elephants along the way, as well as plenty of gemsbok and springbok. It is a long day, but we will travel slowly so we can make the most of photo opportunities along this scenic drive. We reach Puros in the late afternoon where camp has already been set up and the crew is getting dinner ready.

We get up early to maximize our chances of spotting rhino in the area. Black rhinos have been known to frequent this area and they are generally active during the evening and early morning. After our morning game drive we head back to camp for brunch.

In the late afternoon we drive back down to the Hoanib River and enjoy a sundowner at a viewpoint looking back towards the Skeleton Coast one last time before indulging in a sumptuous dinner prepared by our bush chef.

After breakfast we head to our final destination, Palmwag. Here we suddenly have all the luxurious modern amenities available, including a swimming pool, hot showers and a bar with ice cold beverages.

We take it slow today as the driving is along rocky jeep tracks with a high possibility of spotting Rhino. We have lunch along the way under some lovely shade trees near a waterhole, after which we take to the road again for the last stretch to Palmwag. Her we share and our final dinner together.

After one last breakfast together our guide and crew bid you a fond farewell. You can refuel at Palmwag and from here the next destination your choice: The popular Etosha Pan is nearby, you can continue via the Caprivi to Botswana or simply travel via Kamanjab to Windhoek.