In Namibia, a wild strip of white sand separates the old and hot Namibian Desert and the cold waters of Atlantic Ocean. “The Gates of Hell”, as the Portuguese sailors named this part of Africa, is nowadays known as The Skeleton Coast. The place the locals call “the Land God Made in Anger” is reminiscent of a ships graveyard; scattered here and there are the remains of the ships that crashed on one of the most dangerous and odd shores in the world.

The beach is named after the shipyard, but also the seal and whale bones one could find here from back in the days when the fishing industry was still active. The shore where many ships docked forever has 500 kilometers in length. When it was first explored, by the Swedish Charles John Andersson and his team, in 1859, the explorers were terrified. These days, more than a thousand ships of various sizes litter the coast. In the 20th century, ships like Henrietta, Winston, Elly, Shaunee, Eduard Bohlen or Otavi found their end here.

Legends say that some people that survived the shipwreck, swam and crawled on the coasts but eventually died in the desert. What actually caused the dark history of the shipyard in this area was actually the result of the adverse weather conditions. The presence of the cold Benguela current results in dense ocean fogs for the whole year. Moreover, the wind blows from land to sea and there is a endless and heavy surf on the beaches.

Currently, Skeleton Coast National Park encompasses more than 16,000 sq km, starting at the Ugab River and ending at Kunene. In the northern part of the Park you can see clay castles, salt pans and very large seal colonies. Although it has one of the most inhospitable climates on Earth, you can find here some spare forms of vegetation and even mammals like jackals and hyenas. Animals that inhabit the coast get their water from wells dug by baboons and elephants. There’s a fascinating story about how animals adapted to these harsh conditions here.

Such a contrasting landscape, a desert right next to the Ocean, can be seen through fly-in-safaris or a flight from Swakopmund. It’s a unique experience, a spectacular place that must be seen to be believed. Keep in mind that you need to schedule in advance for a visit, since the place is very popular during the summer.

Image credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

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