Skeleton Coast Fly-In Safari

Day one

We meet at Eros Airport, Windhoek at 10h00 for departure to the Skeleton Coast via Conception Bay. The Kuiseb canyon and adjoining red dunes are a spectacular view from the air. The flight includes an aerial view of the famous Eduard Bohlen shipwreck at Conception Bay.
After landing and refuelling at Swakopmund, we continue with a low-level flight north along the Skeleton Coast past the seal colony at Cape Cross for a light picnic lunch near the beach. After lunch we cross the desert by aircraft to the Ugab formations, a nearly lifeless ‘moon landscape' of numerous black ridges in stark contrast to the white desert floor. From here we proceed to our Kuidas camp in the Huab Valley where we stay for the night. Amongst the rocks within walking distance of the camp are ancient rock engravings.

Day two

After breakfast we depart by Landrover to explore the colourful red lavas and yellow sandstones of the Huab River formations and to be introduced to the ecological aspects of this environment with its wide diversity of flora and fauna. This includes the Welwitschia mirabilis, a tree that has been dwarfed by the rigours of the desert climate. We have lunch at Kuidas camp before flying along the coast to Terrace Bay in the Skeleton Coast Park. The most prominent shipwrecks along this part of the coast are the Montrose and Henrietta, still relatively intact. At Terrace Bay we access the roaring dunes by Landrover, which always proves to be a stimulating experience. We also visit the beach with its profusion of multi-coloured pebbles consisting of agates, lavas, granites and others. Interesting to see are old whale bones scattered along the beach above the high tide mark. We return to the airfield and continue north to our Purros camp in the Hoarusib Valley where we stay for the night.

Day three

After breakfast a scenic drive along the Hoarusib Valley to visit a settlement of the nomadic Himba people. We might be lucky enough to come across the desert-dwelling elephant which frequent this valley. A planned encounter is unfortunately not possible. From here we continue north along the Skeleton Coast by aircraft to the perennial Kunene River on the Angolan border. The Kaiu Maru shipwreck and pieces from old sailing vessels lie scattered along this part of the coast. From the airfield we take a scenic drive by Landrover to our favourite lunch site. After lunch we continue through the mountains and dunes of the Hartmann Valley, which extends to the Kunene River, arriving at our Kunene camp next to the river in the late afternoon, where we spend the last night.

Day four

An early morning boat trip on the Kunene River as it flows through scenic desert landscape, observing bird life and some crocodiles. Birds vary from aquatic species on the perennial waters, to endemic desert varieties and those which inhabit dense riverine vegetation. After lunch at the camp, we fly back to Eros Airport, Windhoek, arriving in the late afternoon.

Back to Namibia