Best Things to Do at The Shipwreck Lodge on the Skeleton Coast
- By Karim Hassan
- Reviewed by Sophia Rose
- July 1, 2024
- Travel
Across the African continent, there are many places worth visiting and activities to enjoy. That said, if you have traveled extensively through Africa without stopping at the Shipwreck Lodge in Namibia, you have missed out on a truly unique adventure.
The Shipwreck Lodge is the only accommodation located on the empty and famous Skeleton Coast in Namibia, the lodge’s cabins are cleverly designed to look like shipwrecks themselves and consist of 10 cabins, each raised to protect the fragile environment.
In this blog post, let me take you through the best things to do when you visit the Shipwreck Lodge.
Table Of Content
Visit The Skeleton Coast
These sights will make you feel like you’ve gone back in time. You’ll see the remains of the Suiderkus, a ship that crashed in 1977 even though it had new navigation tools.
You can also check out the Karimona wreck, which shows these waters’ dangers. Lastly, you can explore what’s left of the Westies Diamond Mine, an interesting part of Namibia’s mining past.
Enjoy the Hoarusib River Excursion
You can go on an exciting 4×4 trip with guides to see the Clay Castles. These are amazing rock formations in the Hoarusib River. They look like castles and were made by nature over a long time.
The Clay Castles are made of fine dust from old floods. This dust has been shaped into cool forms that will amaze you.
Bring your camera, you might see Danny the elephant while you’re there. He lives in the area, and getting a picture of him would be a great memory of your trip.
Have a Beach Lunch
You can enjoy a special meal right on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean, along the wild Skeleton Coast.
If the weather is good, you’ll eat great food while feeling the ocean breeze and watching the waves.
The chefs make tasty dishes using local ingredients, including meat and vegetarian options. You can also drink nice wines or other drinks, and after having a good meal, you can sit on the sand with your feet in it and feel it between your toes.
Enjoy Sundowner Drive
Take a beautiful afternoon drive as the sun starts to set. The desert and ocean will glow golden. Your guides will take you to either the beach or the Roaring Dunes. Both are amazing to see.
At the beach, you’ll watch the sunset over the ocean, feel the breeze, and hear the waves. But at the Roaring Dunes, you’ll see and hear something special when the wind blows sand off the top of a dune, it makes a soft roaring sound. It’s an amazing experience you wouldn’t want to miss.
Sandboarding
You get to walk in one of the world’s oldest deserts and climb a huge dune. As you reach the top, you’ll see an amazing view all around you.
You can slide down the dune, feeling the excitement and happiness as you glide through the soft sand. It’s a memory you won’t forget.
Quad Bike Activity
Guided quad bike tours offer a way to explore the remarkable Skeleton Coast landscape up close while protecting the environment.
The ride over the sandy dunes is designated to minimize disturbing plants, animals, or sensitive ecosystems.
Unique Wildlife
Visiting the Shipwreck Lodge offers a chance to see wildlife adapted to the desert. Spotting animals is unusual though, due to the remote area’s harsh conditions of the Skeleton Coast:
- The desert-adapted elephants of the region have evolved to dig far beneath the dunes in search of underground water sources.
- Giraffes, lions, baboons, and brown hyenas.
- Hardy tok-tokkie beetles and lichens survive on the Skeleton Coast, obtaining needed moisture from the dense coastal fog rolling in from the Atlantic Ocean.
- Cape fur seals are commonly seen lining the rocky Skeleton Coast in sizable colonies, their numbers peaking during the October through December pupping season.
- Various bird species like Rüppell’s korhaans, Benguela long-billed larks, jaegers, and skuas can be spotted around the Cape fur seal colonies along the Skeleton Coast.
The Shipwreck Lodge Awaits
Come along with family and friends to have an amazing time at the lodge. You could sandboard in the desert, have a beach lunch, see the clay castle on an exciting 4×4 trip, or enjoy a quad bike activity.
When you’re all set to embark on an unforgettable African adventure, Gold Coast XP is here to help you out. We’ve got incredible tours, fun-packed events, and amazing activities ready for you. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to access exclusive deals and discounts.
