Skeleton Coast: Harsh wonder
The Skeleton Coast of Namibia lies between the Kunene River in the north and stretches southward 500 kilometers to the Ugab River in the south, has a total area of about 16,400 square kilometers.The Kunene river forms the border of Namibia and Angola. The Skeleton coast skirts the Southern Atlantic Ocean for its entire length and is probably the only two and longest desert beaches of the world, along with its southern neighbour, the Namib.
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The attraction, mystique and power of this harsh windswept coast lies in its large white dunes, heavy fogs and
coastal breeze caused by the cold Benguela current and the bones scattered on the beaches from where the park's name is derived. Much of these bones are a result of thousands of shipwrecks to hit these desolate shores. No wonder, the early Bushmen called it "The Place God made in anger".
The Kunene river is one of the very few perennial rivers of the regions. It rises in the highlands of Angola and
flows downward skirting the borders of the Skeleton Coast Park eventually ending up in the Atlantic Ocean. Although wildlife along its banks have dwindled considerably over the centuries, it is still the home to a breed of
aggressive crocodiles.
Most species of plants and insects live off the thick humidity that envelopes the coast and the interior and the
northern edge of the desert where there are rivers and groundwater that sustain much-needed life. Birds and animals have survived on whatever moisture is available from these extremely harsh conditions and evolved over the centuries
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Amazingly enough, the canals of coastal rivers are temporary homes to larger animals like giraffe , gazelle, lion
and baboon along with seabirds and shorebirds.The nutrient-rich coast fed by the cold Benguila current supports
flourishing marine life especially at Cape Fria which is home to a huge seal population. Black-backed jackal and
brown hyena, too, live on the coastal fringes.
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Lions are a rare sight on the coast and mostly roam the interiors.The sighting of a lone lion roaming the beaches is one of the high points of this fascinating coastline.
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The Gerrhosaurus skoogi, an armored lizard, is another attraction. Unique to the Skeleton coast, it roams sand dunes in search of plants, especially the Nara melon, that grows only in these parts.This unique reptile can grow upto a feet long and weigh 120 gms.
The northern part of the Park called Kaokoland is inhabitated by the Himba people, who have still held on to their centuries-old customs and traditions and live the way they used to ages ago.
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The Damara who inhabit Damaraland which is to the south of the Park, have somewhat moved away from tradition and adopted western mores.The Huab river valley which is in Damaraland is the home to the Desert elephant and the rare black rhino.The valley is also inhabited by animals like the zebra, kudu, lion and the cheetah, although in very limited numbers.
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The attraction, mystique and power of this harsh windswept coast lies in its large white dunes, heavy fogs and
coastal breeze caused by the cold Benguela current and the bones scattered on the beaches from where the park's name is derived. Much of these bones are a result of thousands of shipwrecks to hit these desolate shores. No wonder, the early Bushmen called it "The Place God made in anger".
flows downward skirting the borders of the Skeleton Coast Park eventually ending up in the Atlantic Ocean. Although wildlife along its banks have dwindled considerably over the centuries, it is still the home to a breed of
aggressive crocodiles.
northern edge of the desert where there are rivers and groundwater that sustain much-needed life. Birds and animals have survived on whatever moisture is available from these extremely harsh conditions and evolved over the centuries
and baboon along with seabirds and shorebirds.The nutrient-rich coast fed by the cold Benguila current supports
flourishing marine life especially at Cape Fria which is home to a huge seal population. Black-backed jackal and
brown hyena, too, live on the coastal fringes.
The northern part of the Park called Kaokoland is inhabitated by the Himba people, who have still held on to their centuries-old customs and traditions and live the way they used to ages ago.
Skeleton Coast's forbidding nature makes it one of the most pristine shorelines of the world. Inspite of its immense harshness few who know of it can doubt the allure, Which is why it's not just just a destination for tourists from all over, but film and documentary makers as well.
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