Skeleton Coast

The Skeleton Coast is the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean coast of Namibia and southern Angola from the Kunene River to the Swakop River, although the name is sometimes used to describe the entire Namib Desert coast. The Bushmen of the Namibian interior called the region "The Land God Made in Anger", while Portuguese sailors once referred to it as "The Gates of Hell".

On the coast the upwelling of the cold Benguela current gives rise to dense ocean fogs for much of the year. The winds blow from land to sea, rain fall rarely exceeds 10mm annually and the climate is inhospitable. There is a constant, heavy surf on the beaches.

The coast is named for the bleached whale and seal bones which covered the shore when the whaling industry was still active, as well as the skeletal shipwrecks. More than a thousand shipwrecks of various sizes litter the coast.

Remind me again - why did we choose this for a holiday destination?


Sign in the town of Swakopmund. You are not allowed to catch fish larger than yourself?









The pier in Swakopmund.













Swakopmund, Namibia's second biggest town and traditional "summer capital", a sort of central Europe meets the African desert next to the ocean kind of place.












Having Walvis Bay Oyster for starter at the Thug in Swakopmund.











No kidding!



























The desert meet the large Atlantic. The sea is cold, have strong rip currents, large swells and lots of sharks. Not your ideal beach holiday destination.







But still very beautiful.



















A self portrait sitting on the spare tyre on the hood.




































A skeleton in the making on the Skeleton Coast.































By the salt factories they had these honesty shops by the road where you could buy a large chunk of salt crystals and put money in a box.







Cape Cross lodge. We stayed here for one night on this cold and foggy coast.








We decided on an afternoon excursion out to the Cape Cross seal reserve. When we got to the gates we discovered that we had a puncture. A bit strange since the road between Swakop and Cape Cross was really good. They call it a salt road and I think they pour brine over the gravel and this turn the surface pretty hard.









An older gentleman came over and without being asked started helping Magnus with the tyre change. Very kind!








The next day we had to stop in Hentise Bay before heading up in the mountains to have the tyre fixed. The tyres have tubes and they mend the tubes just like you would with your bike.








With the tyre changed we could drive the last few kilometers out to the seal reserve.








Thousand of seals and they are very cute and wery noisy.
























And god they smell!








Waiting for dinner at Cape Cross lodge. Spectaulare location, very nice rooms but awful food unfortunately.







Leaving the coast and heading inland over the lichen fields.