The Skeleton Coast is one of the most remote coastlines on earth. From Swakopmund, you can take day tours to see shipwrecks, seals, and empty beaches. This coast got its name from all the ships that crashed here.
Tour Options
Half day tours last about 4 hours. You leave in the morning and return by lunch. Full day tours go further north and take 7 to 8 hours. They include lunch or snacks.
Cape Cross Seal Colony
Cape Cross has over 100,000 Cape fur seals. The noise is loud and the smell is strong. But watching thousands of seals is amazing. They bark, fight, and play on the beach.
This is the largest seal colony in Namibia. Breeding season brings even more seals.
Shipwrecks
Eduard Bohlen stranded in 1909. Now it sits far from water because sand has moved. The ship looks like it’s in the desert.
The Shawnee wreck is from 1976. You can see it partly buried in sand near the shore. Both wrecks are highlights of the tour.
Moon Landscape
Tours often go through the Moon Landscape. Dry riverbeds cut through rock formations. No plants grow here. NASA tested equipment here because it looks like the moon.
Lichen Fields
Orange and green lichens grow on rocks along the coast. These tiny organisms survive without much water. They can live hundreds of years. Guides explain how they grow so slowly.
Tour Companies
Openspace Tours runs good Skeleton Coast trips. Their guides know the history and wildlife. Groups stay small for a personal experience. Most tours pick you up from your Swakopmund hotel.
What to Bring
The coast is cold and windy. Bring a jacket even in summer. Take your camera for the incredible landscapes. Wear comfortable shoes for walking on sand and rocks.
Best Season
You can visit year round. Winter months from May to September have less fog and better visibility. Summer has more fog but it’s part of the authentic experience.
Cost
Half day tours cost around N$750 per person. Full day tours are N$1200 to N$1500. Prices include transport and guide. Book ahead during July and August peak season.
Many visitors combine this coastal trip with seeing the famous red dunes inland for the complete Namibian desert experience.
