About this route
The long way there
Namibia's Skeleton Coast is one of Earth's most desolate and hauntingly beautiful places. The route passes towering sand dunes, shipwrecks, seal colonies, and desert-adapted elephants. This is adventure driving through landscapes that feel like another planet, where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Must-see highlights
Where to pull over
1
Cape Cross
Massive Cape fur seal colony
2
Shipwrecks
Rusting hulls along the foggy coast
3
Skeleton Coast Park
Remote wilderness with desert-adapted wildlife
4
Himba Villages
Traditional semi-nomadic communities
5
Kunene River
Northern boundary with palm-lined oasis
Field notes
Traveler tips
- 1
4WD is essential beyond Terrace Bay
- 2
Permits required for Skeleton Coast National Park
- 3
Bring all supplies - no services in the park
- 4
Morning fog is common along the coast
- 5
Northern sections require guided tours