Damaraland and Skeleton Coast

Introduction

Damaraland and the Skeleton Coast boast several unique highlights that can’t be missed. The Skeleton Coast lies in the West and Damaraland falls between it and the Etosha National Park in the East. The Skeleton Coast and Damaraland have some of the most fascinating geology in the world which tends to mean magnificent landscapes and fantastic sunsets.

The Skeleton Coast where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean in south-western Africa is named after the bleached bones and scattered remains of shipwrecks washed up on its shore.  This coastline is one of the most desolate yet hauntingly beautiful places on earth.  And while you may indeed encounter skeletons of all descriptions: ships, elephants, whales and tiny lizards, this vast and uncharted territory is home to many fascinating creatures and plants. And even more fascinating landscapes and bizarre juxtapositions of sand and sea, and life and death.

The name Damaraland is derived from the fact that the Damara people live in this area (they were relocated here as a result of the Odendaal Plan in the 1960’s). The name Damaraland is still commonly used in tourism circles, although the entire region has now been renamed; the southern section now lies in the Erongo region while the north forms part of the Kunene region.  Damaraland is the home of the desert adapted where a wide range of lodges offer activities that include nature drives and walks during which guests can see species such as desert-adapted elephant, gemsbok, kudu and springbok, and black rhino as well as rare succulent plants

Highlights of the area include:

The Brandberg – Namibia’s highest mountain and home to the famous ‘White Lady’ Bushman Painting.

Twyfelfontein – a wonderful rocky outcrop with thousands of Bushman engravings.

Spitzkoppe – a typical pointed inselberg, and a place of great mystery to the ancient San people

The Petrified Forest – which is millions of years old.

The Vingerklip (finger rock) – a towering finger of limestone that rises 35m above its base.

Skeleton Coast – Stunning landscape

Ugab Rock Formations

Roaring Sand dunes

Cape Fur Seal Colonies

When To Visit

Every single month is worth a journey to Namibia. Most visitors prefer to travel during the months May to October. It hardly ever rains and the visitor can enjoy the uninterrupted sunshine, except at the foggy coast. The climate is moderate and during the day it does not get extremely hot. Nevertheless it can get very cold in the evenings.

January, February, March

These mid Summer months tend to be the wettest and hottest.  This is the time when rainfall is expected.  Temperatures can be 30-35degC peaking to over 40degC in the desert.  This can make travel a little uncomfortable.  Torrential downpours can occur in the mountains causing flash floods in the valleys.  Once the rains start wildlife viewing in Etosha can be poor because of animal dispersals.

April, May

These are often lovely months in Namibia. Increasingly dry, with a real freshness in the air, and greenery in the landscape; at this time the air is clear and largely free from dust, allowing superb photography.  Game viewing is getting better and travel gets easier as roads that may have been damaged during rainfall are repaired.

June, July, August

This is Namibia’s winter.  Nights can become cold, incredibly dropping to below zero giving frosts in Etosha and the mountain regions.  With the drying conditions the wildlife in the north starts heading towards the permanent water, so making for better wildlife viewing.  It is peak season for game viewing with visitor numbers increasing.

September, October

Temperatures are rising and game-viewing in most areas is at its best, although there’s often a lot of dust around and the high temperatures are starting to take their toll on the vegetation

November, December

November can be a variable month for weather. Some years the hot dry weather continues and other times by early November rain clouds can be forming.  If rains do occur this can be quite a dramatic experience.

December temperatures are high averaging 30 degC, some days may be humid with localized thunderstorms usually in the afternoon especially in the center and east of the country.  Desert regions remain dry.

Skeleton Coast

The closer one gets to the Atlantic coast the less the rainfall. Here the climate differentiates drastically from the rest of the country. Due to the cold Benguela Current along the Atlantic coast the temperatures drop strongly compared to other areas of the country. The prevailing southwest wind is cooled down by the Benguela Current to the extent that no cloud formation can take place at this altitude. Yet a fog bank develops over the Atlantic which lingers along the coastal belt for about 200 days annually and which may also infiltrate several kilometres inland.

Due to the constant south-westerly wind the fluctuation in temperature during summer and winter months is moderate. Thus the average temperature in Swakopmund in January lies at 20 °C, whilst in August an average of 16°C is measured. During the winter month and especially when foggy it can be uncomfortably cold. Except for the days where the so-called east wind weather prevails and warm winds from the Namib Desert heat up the coast. Nevertheless, Namibia is not a country for the typical beach holiday as the water temperatures of the Atlantic rarely rise above 19° C and if they do then only during January – March.

Temperature & Rainfall

Climate Data Damaraland