Travel

DESERT IS BEACH: SKELETON COAST

Namaqua chameleon in the desert. Namibia.

Image: by jbdodane. “Namaqua chameleon.” Henties-Bay. Swakopmund, Namibia.

SKELETON COAST -- NAMIBIA

Desert becomes beach on the Skeleton Coast in Namibia-- and there’s no other place like this in the world.

Image: by Pim Stouten. “Colourful beach.” Skeleton Coast, Namibia.

Along Namibia’s northern coastline, the ancient Namib desert sidles up to the sea to form a unique land mass and microclimate.

Gorgeous sky at Skeleton Coast. Namibia.

Image: by Jack Dyson. “Skeleton Coast.” Namibia.

The climate is fueled and controlled by the Atlantic’s cold Benguela Current, originating off the Western Cape of Africa. Breezes bring moist cool fog, which enshrouds the desert shoreline about half of the year and keeps the desert heat at bay.

The hull remains of a shipwreck ages on the beach along the Skeleton Coast, in Namibia.

Image: by dconvertini. “Skeleton Coast, Namibia.”

Over 1000 shipwrecks have piled up, over hundreds of years, victims of that relentless fog. Giant beached whale skeletons, victims of the region’s whaling industry, punctuate the beach. “Skeleton Coast” is a natural moniker.

Giant sand dunes in Skeleton Coast. Namibia.

Image: by Ted Matherly. Untitled. Skeleton Coast, Namibia.

The 2nd highest sand dunes on the planet rise up as high as 900 feet, undulating and shifting, as wind and ocean waves carve them into sand waves -- into a “dune sea.”

Indigenous woman in tribal red ochre mud hair dressing in the Namib desert, in Namibia.

Image: by Terry Feuerborn. “Himba Woman, Skeleton Coast, Northern Namibia.”

Explore the Skeleton Coast at ground level, where you can connect with the beautiful people of the desert. Get up close with endemic reptiles, insects, and wildflowers. Take a dune drive -- feel the surface.

Giraffe adapted to live in the Namib Desert’s Skeleton Coast, in Namibia.

Image: by Ted Matherly. Untitled. Angolan giraffe. Hoanib, Skeleton Coast, Namibia.

A desert beach safari offers you glimpses of giraffes, elephants, lions, and ostriches who have adapted to life in this dichotomous place. Check out Omalweendo Safaris.

Beautiful desert lion family gathers on the Skeleton Coast. Namibia.

Image: by Y Nakanishi. “Desert Lion Family | Hoanib, Namibia.”

You won’t see animals like this anywhere else in the world. Check out dune drive tours with Omalweendo Safaris.

Expansive Skeleton Coast desert. Namibia.

Image: by Noam Lovinsky. “Skeleton Coast, Namibia.”

It’s also a thrill to see the surreal landscape, in context of its surroundings, from above on a flightseeing tour. Check out Schoeman's Skeleton Coast Safaris.

Beautiful unusually shaped rocks and plants in the Namib desert, along the Skeleton Coast in Namibia.

Image: by Ian Cochrane. “Skeleton Coast, Namibia.”

Read more about Desert & Beach Beauties all this week on BeautifulNow. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

Stunning view of Skeleton Coast desert beach at Terrace Bay. Namibia.

Image: by Ian Cochrane. “Skeleton Coast, Namibia.” Terrace Bay, Namibia.

Want more stories like this? Sign up for our weekly BN Newsletter, Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest. Join our BeautifulNow Community and connect with the most beautiful things happening in the world right now!

Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Competition.

Ostriches adapted to live in the Namib desert along the Skeleton Coast, Namibia.

Image: by Jack Dyson. “Skeleton Coast.” Namibia.