Namibia's Skeleton Coast in South West Africa
Unusual Animals and Plants of the Namib Desert
May 19, 2009
Although the entire coastline of Namibia was formerly called the Skeleton Coast, today it refers only to the Skeleton Coast National Park.
The cold Benguela current in the Atlantic causes climatic conditions that are unexpected in a desert country like Namibia. Cold sea breezes meet with the extreme heat of the Namib desert, causing dense fog and a chilly climate during parts of the day.
The Skeleton Coast National Park covers over 1.6 million hectares and divided into two zones - the southern section between Ugab and Hoanib rivers and the northern section - between the Hoanib and Kunene rivers.
Namibia's Skeleton Coast - Landscape and Scenery
The landscape in this part of Namibia ranges from sweeping vistas of wind swept dunes to rugged canyons with walls of richly colored volcanic rock and extensive mountain ranges. The coastline meeting with dunes characterizes the Skeleton Coast Park, only occasionally broken by scattered rocky outcrops. The southern section of the national park consists of the gravel plains but high dunes occur in the immediate vicinity of the coast.
The Skeleton Coast is littered with ship wrecks, mostly seen in the northern part of the park. Tourists can only enter this remote and hostile area by means of exclusive fly-in safaris conducted by tourism companies who have been granted a concession by the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET). Of special interest are the clay castles of the Hoarisib, the salt pans near the Agate mountain and one of the largest seal colonies in the world at Cape Fria.
The southern section of the Skeleton Coast park is accessible to the general public and attracts anglers to its superb fishing grounds. Because of the ecological sensitivity of the area, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism manages this area.
Tourists may travel through this area but they must be possession of the necessary permit which can be obtained from the Ministry's Reservation office in Windhoek or its Information office in Swakopmund. The park can be entered at Ugabmund and Springbokwasser checkpoints.
Animal and Plant Life in the Skeleton Coast National Park
Springbok, oryx, hyena and ostrich are fairly common, while Namibia's famous desert elephant, black rhino, lion and giraffe are found in the dry river beds which flow from the interior of Namibia through the Namib Desert to the Skeleton Coast.
Cape Fur seals thrive in this area and the bird life along this stretch of the ocean is prolific due to the nutrient-rich ocean life off the coast. Most of the plant and insect species depend on the thick fog that envelopes the coast for their moisture.
Skeleton Coast Prohibited Diamond Mining Area
Sailors shipwrecked on the Skeleton Coast are said to have often stumbled across alluvial diamonds lying at their feet; then they died of thirst, carrying unimaginable wealth in their pockets.
The deserted buildings of Kolmanskop loom out of the dunes, a monument to discovery of diamonds in the area back in 1908. The area became restricted and to this day members of the public are banned from entering most of the area and may visit with an authorized tour operator only.
Restrictions on prospecting activities over the Diamond Area 1 (or Sperrgebiet - forbidden area), representing a total of 26 000 km2 has been lifted by Namdeb.
Although Namibia is only the seventh largest producer of diamonds in the world, almost all of its stones are of gem quality.
References:
1. Mining in Namibia – Mbendi Information Services
2. Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa, 4th Edition, pages 473 - 475, Reader's Digest
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