The most dramatic and desolate coastline in Africa — where the Namib Desert meets the South Atlantic through a curtain of cold sea fog. Shipwrecks rust on beaches littered with bleached whale bones, Cape fur seal colonies number in the hundreds of thousands, and the desert lion prowls between seal pups and gemsbok. The northern Skeleton Coast is accessible only by private fly-in safari and is one of the most exclusive destinations anywhere in Africa.
Ratings
Wildlife Density: ★★☆☆☆ Infrastructure: ★☆☆☆☆ Photography: ★★★★★
Adventure: ★★★★★ Exclusivity: ★★★★★ Value for Money: ★☆☆☆☆ Scenery: ★★★★★
Key wildlife: Cape fur seal (Cape Cross colony: 100,000+), brown hyena, black-backed jackal, desert lion, gemsbok, whale (offshore), dolphin, Cape gannet, African penguin (colonies nearby)
Best for: Extreme adventurers, photographers, ultimate exclusivity, combining desert and ocean wildlife
Best time: May–September (cooler, fog season, sea conditions for marine wildlife)
More about this reserve will be added here over time.
25South 