Route Overview
About this Tour
The Skeleton Coast is one of the most remote and haunting places on earth. Cold Atlantic mist meets glowing desert, shipwrecks rust on the beach, and millions of seals inhabit the coast. This route is not for the faint of heart – it requires a fully equipped 4x4 camper, careful planning, and a spirit of adventure. In return, you experience a landscape that feels like the end of the world. From the red dunes of Sossusvlei via the German colonial city of Swakopmund to the ghost towns of the diamond desert – Namibia is the road trip in its purest form.
Your Journey in Detail
🏜️Windhoek & Sossusvlei
Start in Windhoek, Namibia's relaxed capital with a German heritage. The drive to Sossusvlei leads through endless savanna. The highlight: Dune 45 at sunrise, when the 325-meter-high sand dunes glow in bright orange. Deadvlei behind it is surreal – white salt pan, black trees, red sand.
🦴Swakopmund & Coast
Swakopmund is Namibia's curiosity – a German seaside resort at the edge of the desert. Here there is Black Forest gateau and half-timbered houses in the middle of Africa. Perfect for a break! To the north begins the Skeleton Coast: Cape Cross with its 210,000 seals is the first spectacular stop.
🦭Skeleton Coast & Back
The Skeleton Coast is a nature conservation area with strictly limited visitors. Rusting shipwrecks protrude from the fog, oryx antelopes cross the dunes, and the silence is deafening. The return trip leads through Damaraland with its desert elephants and the rock art of Twyfelfontein.
💡Practical Tips
- ✓4WD is MANDATORY from the Skeleton Coast – no exceptions!
- ✓Fill up at EVERY opportunity – 300km without a gas station is normal.
- ✓Book permits for the Skeleton Coast online in advance!
At a Glance
Duration
14-21 Tage
Distance
2.000 km
Difficulty
Challenging
Highlights
- ⭐Sossusvlei Dunes
- ⭐Cape Cross Robbenkolonie
- ⭐Schiffswracks am Strand
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