If you’re looking for an incomparable Gypset travel experience, head to one of the most fantastic locations on earth; Skeleton Coast National Park in Africa. The barren and harsh desert of Namibia surrounds the coast, completely isolating it, making it one of the most remote surf locations in the world. It takes either a safari or a flight in order to access the coastline.
The name of this unforgiving destination, “Skeleton Coast,” came from the bones that once littered the shores. Although most of the bones were from whaling and seal hunting, more than a few of the skeletons were human. The Bushmen called it ‘The Land God Made in Anger” and the Portuguese knew it as “The Gates of Hell.” Ever since European navigators first discovered the Skeleton Coast, ships have wrecked on it’s off-shore rocks or run aground in its blinding fog.
While small boats could manage to reach the shore, the strong surf made it impossible to launch; hence the stories of sailors walking through the murderous terrain. The term “Skeleton Coast” is also associated with the thousands of wrecked ships that are scattered along the coast, casualties of the fog and rough surf.
Despite its uninhabitable and deadly appearance, the Skeleton Coast has a greater variety of species than many other parks in Southern Africa. Large mammals include Namibia’s famous desert-adapted elephant, cheetah, black rhino, giraffe, lion, zebra, gemsbok, springbok and spotted and brown hyenas.
The surf at Skeleton Coast is famous for being consistent and strong, offering some of the best barrels in Africa. The water is cold, and the currents are unyielding. This leads to very unpredictable conditions. There is also an abundance of sharks in the water, leaving most of the coastline unexplored. Any skilled surfer willing to take a safari to endure the unpredictable and powerful waves of Skeleton Coast is in for the ride of his/her life.
An amazing alternative for those who want to avoid the cold water and the sharks is dune skiing(www.ski-namibia.com) in the desert.
The park is about 500 km long and takes up one third of Namibia’s coastline– stretching from the Kunene River in the north to the Ugab River in the south.
5 comments on “Gypset Travel ~ Skeleton Coast of Africa”
Those pictures are incredible! Africa is definitely on my list of travel destinations, but after this post, your images make me want to see more than just the safari!
Love these images! We are a family of surfers and I know S. Africa is on my hubby’s list to surf one day! (Even though those sharky waters scare the heck out of me!)
Absolutely amazing!!
Those images don’t even look real. They’re so haunting, but intriguing! Thanks for sharing such a unique destination!
Those pictures are incredible! Africa is definitely on my list of travel destinations, but after this post, your images make me want to see more than just the safari!
Love these images! We are a family of surfers and I know S. Africa is on my hubby’s list to surf one day! (Even though those sharky waters scare the heck out of me!)
Wow, this looks and sounds like an amazing place. I’ve never even heard of dune skiing! Fabulous photos, too.