6 Day Skeleton Coast Safari D - Namibia
Day 01
We meet at Eros Airport, Windhoek at 07h00 for an early morning flight to Sossusvlei in the Namib Naukluft Park. Sossusvlei is reputed to have the highest dunes in the world. The view of the shadow-lined dunes from the air is well worth seeing. We land at Sesriem from where an excursion by vehicle into the dunes is undertaken. The dunes reach heights of 300m and more, for those inclined and fit enough to climb the. After picnic lunch among the dunes we transfer by aircraft to the Wolwedans Dune Damp in the NamibRand Nature Reserve where we stay for two nights. An afternoon drive through the nature reserve concludes our day.
Day 02
We fly to Lüderitzbucht to participate in the day-long Elizabeth Bay safari which is offered by the Kolmanskop Tour Company. The Elizabeth Bay safari introduces visitors to the town of Lüdertiz, old ghost town relics and mining plants of the early German pioneers, the forbidden coast and a fur seal colony at Atlas Bay. The late afternoon flight from Lüderitzbucht, back to Wolwedans Dune Camp, passes over Spencer Bay with its picturesque Otavi shipwreck, seals basking on the rocky slopes, penguins and other birdlife. This is possible the most desolate and impelling part of the Skeleton Coast.
Day 03
The flight from Wolwedans Dune Camp to Swakopmund includes an aerial view of the famous Eduard Bohlen shipwreck at Conception Bay. After landing and refueling at Swakopmund, we continue with a low-level flight north along the Skeleton Coast past the seal colony at Cape Cross for a light picnic lunch near the beach. After lunch we cross the desert by aircraft to the Ugab formations, a nearly lifeless 'moon landscape' of numerous black ridges, in stark contrast to the white desert floor. From here we cross to our camp Kuidas in the Huab Valley where we stay for the night. Amongst the rocks within walking distance of the camp are ancient rock engravings.
Day 04
After breakfast we depart by Landrover to explore the colourful red lavas and yellow sandstones of the Huab River formations and to be introduced to the ecological aspects of this environment, with its wide diversity of flora and fauna. This includes the Welwitschia mirabilis, a tree that has been dwarfed by the rigours of the desert climate. We have lunch at our Huab camp before we depart by aircraft along the coast for Terrace Bay in the Skeleton Coast Park. The most prominent shipwrecks along this part of the coast are the Montrose and Henrietta, still relatively intact. At Terrace Bay we access the roaring dunes by Landrover, which has always proved to be a stimulating experience. We also visit the beach with its profusion of multi-coloured pebbles consisting of agates, lavas, granites and others. Interesting to see are old whale bones scattered along the beach above the high tide mark. We return to the airfield and continue north to our camp Purros in the Hoarusib Valley where we stay for the night.
Day 05
After breakfast we take a scenic drive along the Hoarusib Valley to visit a settlement of the nomadic Himba people. We might be lucky enough to come across the desert-dwelling elephant which frequent this valley. A planned encounter is unfortunately not possible. From here we continue north along the Skeleton Coast by aircraft to the perennial Kunene River on the Angolan border. The Kaiu Maru shipwreck and pieces from old sailing vessels lie scattered along this part of the coast. From the airfield we take a scenic drive by Landrover to our favourite lunch site. After lunch we continue through the mountains and dunes of the Hartmann Valley, which extends to the Kunene River, arriving at our camp next to the river in the late afternoon, where we spend the last night.
Day 06
An early morning boat trip on the Kunene River as it flows through scenic desert landscape, observing bird life and some crocodiles. Birds vary from aquatic species on the perennial waters, to endemic desert varieties and those which inhabit dense riverine vegetation. After the boat trip we depart by Landrover through the mountains of the Hartmann Valley to a shaded lunch spot. After lunch we fly back to Eros Airport, Windhoek, arriving in the late afternoon.
