Sandboarding and Quad Biking the Dunes of Namibia’s Skeleton Coastline

For me, the large attract of Namibia was the dunes of Sossuvlei, the mirage that they are on fireplace as the sunlight rises and sets every single working day, a scene we were lucky adequate to look at from a sizzling air balloon. For my superior close friend and travel buddy Em, it was all about the attract of the Skeleton Coastline. And our whole group was more than eager to dive into this sandy coastal place specially when we acquired we could go sandboarding in Namibia and race every other on ATVs the moment we arrived at Shipwreck Lodge.The working experience did not disappoint—it was 1 of the highlights of our two-week journey by way of Namibia.Receiving to the Skeleton CoastFor the entirety of our time highway-tripping all over Namibia, we had a wonderful driver named Nico who our African tour enterprise hired for us. We debated the choice of self-driving mainly because my husband is an exceptional driver and we love the flexibility being our own guides affords us, but in the conclusion, we settled on a person else navigating. This wound up staying really wise—Namibia is not the least difficult region to navigate you, specifically with a vast majority of the roadways staying dirt and unmarked.Acquiring to the Skeleton Coast was no unique. We had been at Desert Rhino Camp specifically ahead of we arrived at the Skeleton Coastline, which intended a trip in an open-air 4×4 back to wherever Nico had remaining the van, then a few several hours west to the coastline in our cozy eight-passenger van. The moment we arrived in Torra Bay, we took a toilet crack then continued onto Möwe Bay wherever there is a small visitors centre. We experienced a rapid snack and bought a briefing on the shoreline ahead of being picked up by Shipwreck Lodge’s in-property transportation, yet another modified Toyota Land Cruiser.About 90 minutes of bouncing all over in the Toyota although literally cruising on the beach—there are no paved streets to Shipwreck Lodge outside of Möwe Bay—and we had arrived. Even if we had taken a charter flight, one thing I may quite effectively do on our next Namibia excursion, we would have flown from Windhoek or Swakopmund to Möwe Bay and nevertheless had to generate a distance in the sand.What is the Skeleton Coast?If you have viewed imagery of Namibia in journals, you have probable viewed snapshots of the Skeleton Coastline. It’s a extensive stretch of shoreline that reaches up to the Angola border at the northern edge of Namibia and down to the Swakop River. It is a good deal like San Francisco: chilly, foggy, wild and attractive. It was the 1st time all trip we desired extended sleeves for warmth.People today go to the Skeleton Coast for its remoteness, as nicely as the chance to see a lone elephant lumber throughout the clean or a lion arise from the dunes to go looking for the seals that inhabit the waters. We, however, were being there for Shipwreck Lodge.If you’re being close by in Swakopmund, Skeleton Coast is a normal following halt if you’re executing a loop of Namibia clockwise.Remaining on the Skeleton Coastline at Shipwreck LodgeEmilie and I had both equally found imagery of Shipwreck Lodge and always needed to go there. This collection of cottages housed in the sand not only glance like shipwrecks—which is how Skeleton Coastline acquired its name, from the numerous ship skeletons that dot the coastline and the whale bones that have washed ashore—but make the most of eco-pleasant components in their development. For the reason that of the really delicate mother nature of the ecosystem and the desolation of the lodge’s geography, each individual piece had to be brought in the exact way we arrived.Of all the interesting spots we stayed in Namibia, Shipwreck Lodge was by far the most special. We compensated for an all-inclusive, 12-day tour, but you can look at in this article for nightly rates at the lodge.Sandboarding in NamibiaOne of the principal motives travelers to Namibia uncover their way to the Shipwreck Lodge is simply because of the functions it provides. Sandboarding in Namibia is really well-known, and this is the only space the place you can do it in the nation.Our morning and afternoon things to do have been incorporated in our packaged keep, so we did not have to fork out additional for sandboarding like we did our balloon ride, that means it was a no-brainer. On the 1st morning of our remain, Imms and crew break up up our team: Fifty percent of us would sandboard even though the other 50 percent would travel ATVs (or quad bikes as they call them) via the desert to the sandboarding hill. Then, we would swap.I was in the initially group, riding the quad bikes when Imms transported the other folks from the lodge deep into the dunes. I’d ridden ATVs (or UTVs) in the US right before, but this was distinctive: For one particular, I experienced to master how to use a clutch. And for another, we have been using on the quite soft surface of the sand.You can only trip these quad bikes with a guidebook as there are specified driving paths so as to preserve the dunes.We rode for about 50 % an hour right before we achieved our halting level. It was so a lot enjoyable, nevertheless, I could have spent all day on this quad bicycle.When we attained the other team, they have been included with sand and crazy grins. We swapped out and took to the sandboard, which was primarily a sled for the dunes.Shannon, our most adventurous journey buddy, went initially, straight away pummeling down the dune and finding a mouthful of sand as she strike the base.I took a cue from her and utilized my neck gaiter to go over my face and not undergo the exact fate. If you adore sledding or downhill sports activities of any variety, sandboarding in Namibia is undoubtedly for you.The worst component? The wander again up. The dune was seriously steep.Meanwhile, my mother was in the other team of quad bikers and thoroughly smoked everyone. 74 decades old and driving that issue like she’s a 16-year-outdated boy!Other items to do on the Skeleton CoastWhile sandboarding in Namibia is surely a massive reason men and women appear to the Skeleton Coastline, there are lots of other things to do you can ebook like 4×4 safaris and guided tours of shipwrecks and diamond mining camps, but when we arrived back at the lodge, we went on a hike to the sea.When we arrived at the beach, we located the Shipwreck Lodge staff experienced set up a very particular lunch for us with the very best waterfront look at in the dwelling.That afternoon, Imms took us on a match journey where we noticed much more oryx and springbok—but regrettably, no hyenas, a lot to Shannon’s dismay—as his Land Cruiser took us larger and increased to a ridge exactly where he experienced the best viewpoint of the encompassing topography.We obtained to the leading and spent some time just soaking in the views. As was our daily schedule, Imms and Nico established up a sundowner for us and poured out G&Ts and rose, and we toasted another fantastic day in Namibia.Have you at any time heard of the Skeleton Coast? Is sandboarding in Namibia now on your bucket checklist, as well?

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