The Skeleton Coast Park, Namibia: The
attraction of this remote area lies in the colours, changing moods and untouched profiles
of the landscape. The aura of mystery and mightiness is largely due to the dense coastal
fog and cold sea breezes caused by the cold Benguela ocean current from the Arctic, and
bones scattered along the beaches from which the coast derives its name.
The landscape in the park ranges from sweeping vistas of wind swept dunes to rugged
canyons with walls of richly coloured volcanic rock and extensive mountain ranges. Its
level coastline characterises the park, only occasionally broken by scattered rocky
outcrops. The southern section consists of the gravel plains, but north of Terrace Bay
high dunes occur in the immediate vicinity of the coast. The remains of shipwrecks
scattered along the coast bear witness to the many ships, which have come to grief along
these desolate shores.
The Ugab river is its southern boundary, and the park stretches north to the Kunene river.
The park covers over 1.6 million hectare and its divided into two zones; the southern
section between Ugab and Hoanib rivers, and the northern section, between the Hoanib and
Kunene rivers.
The southern section of the park is accessible to the general public and attracts anglers
from far and wide to its superb fishing grounds. The vegetation between the Ugab and Huab
rivers is of the Central Namib type, while that north of the Huab is classified as
Northern Namib. The vegetation is relatively spare, the most common species being dollar
bush, brakspekbos and the occasional stands of ganna. Mammals along the coast are mainly
limited to black-backed jackal, brown hyena and the Cape fur seals. Adjoining the northern
section of the Skeleton Coats Park is Kaokoland inhabited by the Himba people who still
live according to ancient customs and traditions. To the south of the park is Damaraland,
inhabited by the Damara people, who have adopted western lifestyles. |
