Skeleton Coast National Park | Namibie reizen
The name of the expansive Skeleton Coast National Park is derived from the many shipwrecks that have occurred here as a result of attempts to circumnavigate the Cape of Good Hope. Those who want to visit the park would be well advised to do so by plane, because this region extends over an enormous area, from Ugab River in the south to Kunene River in the north. Some areas are also impassable by car.
The name Skeleton Coast National Park needs no explanation: the many kilometres of inhospitable, desolate beaches are littered with the rusted remains of ships that loom up eerily at you out the dense mist. The Namibian coast drove fear into the hearts of sailors, and quite rightly so. The treacherous currents and sand banks, in combination with impenetrable mist banks, sounded an inglorious death knell for many ships. If you survived a shipwreck here the only land you could look forward to was the vast expanse of Namib Desert. Visitors wanting to come to this area now are advised to do so in a 4x4 or by plane.
The most important aspects of this area, however, are the incredible landscapes, which vary from endless panoramic views across the sand dunes to rugged canyons with richly coloured volcanic walls and rock drawings. The mist that proved fatal for so many ships also provides for a unique ecosystem, in which rare plants grow: the 'Elephant's Foot' plant and rock plants that are identical to gravel, until they come into flower. The elephants have also adapted to this desert; they have even been captured on film sliding down the sand dunes.
