A northern Skeleton Coast fly-in safari begins with a small aircraft flight from Windhoek or Swakopmund. The flight itself is part of the experience: the central Namib desert below, then the shift to the coastal escarpment, and finally the ocean visible ahead with the northern Skeleton Coast wilderness between the aircraft and the water.
The Flight
Most northern wilderness camps are reached by a 2 to 3 hour flight from Windhoek’s Eros Airport, or a 1 to 1.5 hour flight from Swakopmund. Aircraft are typically 6 to 12 seat light planes operated by the camp’s contracted aviation partner. Baggage is limited to soft bags (45 to 55 litres maximum); hard-shell suitcases cannot be loaded on small aircraft.
The flight approaches the wilderness from the east, crossing the central Namib and the coastal escarpment. The view of the Skeleton Coast from altitude, the orange dune sea meeting the grey Atlantic, the white salt pans, the sinuous river corridors of the Hoarusib and Hoanib, is one of the most extraordinary aerial views in Africa.
Camp Life
The camps in the northern wilderness are small (4 to 8 tents typically) and remote. Activities are guided and structured:
Daily programme: Early morning guided drive along the river corridor; mid-morning return to camp; afternoon drive or walk; evening around the fire. No night drives (the wilderness area regulations apply); the night sky above the camp, with zero light pollution, is the evening entertainment.
Aktivitäten: Desert-adapted elephant tracking along the river corridor; desert lion territory familiarisation drives; coastal walks to the beach; shipwreck visits (accessible from camp in some locations); geological interpretation walks.
What You See
The specific wildlife of the northern wilderness:
- Desert-adapted elephant in the Hoarusib and Hoanib corridors
- Desert lion (the Skeleton Coast population; among the most researched but least-seen lion in Africa)
- Brown hyena (common; active at night near camp)
- Cape fur seal colonies at the beach
- Black-backed jackal
- A range of coastal and desert bird species
Full wildlife guide: Skeleton Coast wildlife