Shipwreck Lodge
- Skeleton Coast
- 10 Rooms
- NAD 16,595 — NAD 27,950 per night
There is remote. And then there is the Skeleton Coast, a raw and rugged sweep of coastline along the Namibian Atlantic that is both desolate and breathtaking.
Here towering dunes and wind-swept plains are buffeted by the icy Atlantic seas. But beneath this seemingly barren exterior lies a vibrant tapestry of flora and fauna that has adapted to thrive in one of the harshest environments on Earth.
Notorious for its rough seas, rocky shallows and thick fog, Namibia’s Skeleton Coast has claimed the lives of many sailors for years.
But there’s much more to the area than simple isolation. Search for the many desert-adapted creatures, including the famed desert elephants and lions, in this barren land. Discover the enchanting desert succulents and lichens. Sit atop the tall dunes as the sun sets. Spend the day beach-combing for whale bones and shipwreck debris. Admire the geologically remarkable Clay Castles.
There’s nowhere like it on earth.
The Skeleton Coast National Park begins at the Uqab River and runs roughly 500 kilometres up the Atlantic Coast to the Kunene River. It covers an area of around 16,000 square kilometers
Shipwreck Lodge itself is located in the Skeleton Coast Central Concession Area, a piece of land between the Hoarusib and Hoanib rivers. This restricted area, within the National Park, contains irreplaceable and vulnerable wildlife habitat for species of the highest conservation importance, including elephant and the elusive brown hyena. Importantly, it also hosts the only other viable lion population in Namibia outside of Etosha National Park.
The interplay between desert and ocean creates a vibrant tapestry of life, The habitats, largely harsh and arid, are influenced by the Benguela Current and coastal fog that supports life in an otherwise desert environment.
Key habitats include the ocean and tidal pools, coastal dunes, gravel plains, predominantly dry riverbeds, salt pans and wetlands.
The sand dunes support minimal plant life, but specialized species adapted to tolerate salty and sandy conditions like Salsola (saltbush) and Atriplex (saltwort) may be found. Lichens and small succulents, like Lithops (living stones) and Aloe species, dominate the plains. Will dense vegetation can be found along dry riverbeds, including Acacia, Salvadora, and Tamarix trees, as well as some grasses and reeds.
Shipwreck Lodge is within a restricted area of the Skeleton Coast National Park and roughly 45 kilometres north of Mowe Bay.
Access is by road or air. Road transfers are available from Windhoek, while self-drivers can make their way to Mowe Bay and from there transfer by 4WD to camp.
Light aircraft fly between Windhoek and Mowe Bay, with lodge transfers by 4WD.
The Skeleton Coast is an excellent year-round destination, and it stays relatively cool throughout the year.
May to October are the winter months. During the day, temperatures are a pleasant 21 to 25 degrees Celsius, but mornings and evenings can be chilly. There is virtually no rain at this time of year.
November to April are the summer months at the Skeleton Coast. In the desert, rainfall patterns are never guaranteed, but you can expect some showers at this time.
The Skeleton Coast Central Concession Area is a crucial habitat for the famed desert elephants, vulnerable desert-adapted lions, and elusive brown-hyenas.
Other notable land mammals in the National Park include oryx, springbok, black-backed jackal, giraffe, baboon, and zebra.
The ocean waters are rich with marine life, feeding off the nutrients in the Atlantic, and the most iconic species are the Cape fur seals that line the rocky shoreline in large colonies.
Birdlife is prolific with over 200 bird species recorded in the park, including migratory and resident birds.
Seabirds like gulls, terns and cormorants thrive in these nutrient rich waters. Coastal dwellers include tractrac chats, chestnut-banded plover and skuas. The wetlands and lagoons host a diversity of migratory waterbirds including flamingos and pelicans, while resident desert adapted birds include the Rüppell’s korhaan and Benguela long-billed lark.
