Fantastic landscapes and experienced guides make Shipwreck Lodge a must for those wanting to get the most of their adventure along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.
The Skeleton Coast is an area known for its extraordinary landscapes. Wildlife sightings are rare – but when you do spot something, it’s truly a magical experience. First up are the desert-adapted elephant, digging deep beneath the sand for the last vestiges of water. Then, making use of the wells left behind by these slow-moving giants, are giraffe, lion and baboon, and perhaps even a brown hyena or two. Also look out for tok-tokkie beetles and the unusual plants and lichens that survive in the cold, hypnotic fog that rolls off the icy Atlantic.
In the region surrounding Shipwreck Lodge, marine life positively thrives feeding off the nutrients in the Atlantic. The most iconic species are the Cape fur seals that line the rocky shoreline in large colonies. Birdlife is also prolific and you should most certainly pack your binos to spot Rüppell’s korhaans and Benguela long-billed larks. Further toward the coast, you should also be able to spot jaegers and skuas milling around the lively seal colonies.
This is a place of adventure, and there is no shortage of activities! To experience the coast, make a full-day, 4x4 excursion to the Möwe Bay seal colony, bypassing the Suiderkus and Karimona shipwrecks and the remains of the Westies diamond mine. Alternatively, explore the interior dunes and dry riverbeds, renowned for their dramatic scenic beauty as well as the chance of seeing the ever-famous desert elephants, lion and brown hyena.