Kunene & The Skeleton Coast
Where dunes meet the Atlantic, Skeleton Coast & Kunene is Namibia at its wildest. Bleached shipwrecks, fog-shrouded beaches, and desert-adapted lions make this one of the most remote safari destinations on the continent — haunting, exhilarating, and almost entirely untouched.
Overview
The Skeleton Coast is a place that defies expectations. Harsh, stark, yet utterly magnetic, it’s a stretch of Namibia where the Namib Desert collapses into the sea in a chaos of shifting dunes, salt pans and crashing waves. The remnants of wrecked ships scatter the shore. The fog rolls in off the Atlantic almost daily. And yet, it’s alive. Desert-adapted lions and elephants move silently along dry riverbeds. Giraffes pick their way through scrubland. Brown hyenas prowl the coast. It’s surreal and silent and deeply moving. Inland, the Kunene region unfolds into even greater solitude. Rocky hills give way to endless plains, and in the far north, the green ribbon of the Kunene River cuts through the desert — a lifeline for both wildlife and the nomadic Himba communities who live here. Access is by light aircraft. Camps are few and far between. But for those who venture this far, the reward is one of the most profound wilderness experiences in Africa — vast, untouched, and full of stories.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit the Skeleton Coast and Kunene is during the dry season, from May through October. Mornings are cool, afternoons are clear, and wildlife is easier to find along dry riverbeds and natural springs. These months offer the most comfortable conditions for flying safaris and exploring both the coast and the interior without intense heat.
August and September are particularly good for photography; golden light, soft desert colours, and minimal wind. That said, the region is remote and sees little rain year-round, so travel is possible outside peak months too.
Coastal fog, the Skeleton Coast’s signature, can drift in at any time of year, part of what makes the landscape so atmospheric. And up in Kunene, far from roads or other travellers, the isolation is constant, regardless of season.
Jan
Mixed
Feb
Mixed
Mar
Good
Apr
Good
May
Good
Jun
Excellent
Jul
Excellent
Aug
Excellent
Sep
Excellent
Oct
Excellent
Nov
Good
Dec
Good
Known For
Desert-Adapted Predators – Lions, elephants and giraffe that have evolved to survive in some of the most arid terrain on Earth.
Haunting Coastal Beauty – The wrecks and fog banks of the Skeleton Coast give the shoreline an almost mythical atmosphere.
Remote Cultural Encounters – The chance to meet Himba families in the far northwest, where tradition still thrives against the odds.
Gallery
Discover the stunning vistas and rich wildlife showcased in our gallery. Each photograph narrates a tale of exploration and the raw beauty of the safari.
Ideal Pairing
"Namibia has so much to offer even the most seasoned safari veteran will be blown away. The landscape changes so much by moving just a few miles, so pair the skeleton coast with Damaraland and Sossusvlei."
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