Kunene Mouth
The Skeleton Coast Park with its ambiance, ephemeral rivers and wildlife make it a once in a life-time experience and a must see.
The ecosystem of the area is massive shaping into landscapes that leave you speechless, more than 180 different species of Lichens, Welwitschias, ancient Bushman Circles and more. And then, just when you think you have seen it all, we reach the mouth of the Kunene River.
This tour offers you a walk-through history, ambiance and culture.
Making way North
Day 01 - 441km
Early morning, we meet in Swakopmund. The exact location will be given on the WhatsApp group that you will be added on prior to departure. Radios will be installed in each vehicle followed by a quick and short briefing, before we depart for the Skeleton Coast Park. The name was first used by newspaperman, Sam Davis in 1933 and it has since stuck. We enter the Park at the Ugab River, making way to Terrace Bay where we will fuel for the last time before heading deeper into the park. Landscapes and solitary driving is on the menu for today as we will experience some of the most extraordinary landscapes. Our last checkpoint is Mowe Bay, where the Skeleton Coast Park wardens live that patrol the park.
O/N Camping – Wild Camping on the beach Mowe Bay.
Mowe Bay - last resort
Day 02 - 120km
Interesting points to be visited during the day includes the diamond mining attempts of the Schoeman family, the crash site of the Ventura Bomber that tried to rescue the survivors of the Dunedin Star.
People lived here
Our first taste of the dunes today as we cross dropping into the Hoarusib river where it mouths into the Atlantic Ocean. We take a drive up the river passing interesting sandcastle formations and cross over to the most unreal landscapes and Lichen Fields.
We work our way further down the river almost to the point where we will exit the Skeleton Coast Park, a point of no return. We turn sharp and work our way to the Khumib river where we will sleep in the area.
Wild Camping “Between somewhere and nowhere”.
Lichen fields
Day 03 - 150 km
The landscape is unreal and filled with ambiance. We exit the Khumib River making our way back to the coast. We pass by an old mine, where you just wonder how they did it. Signs of life thousands of years ago is found at the Bushman Stone Circles, and you just look and wonder.
Passing Cape Fria, we make way north to the place where the survivors of the Dunedin Star lived for months until rescued by an overland rescue team, a rescue that is noted as the longest rescue attempt in Namibia.
Wild Camping “Between somewhere and nowhere”.
Day 04 - 150km
Our destination is the mouth of the mighty Kunene River. Most of the driving today will be done on soft sand.
Beach driving
The river mouth changes weekly and always offer a surprise once you get there. It’s an unbelievable sight, something everybody must see while it’s still possible.
Wild Camping in the dunes.
Day 05 - 70km
The best way to describe today is “it’s not that far, but quite a distance". The dunes are big, and it promises to be a true adventure. But don’t let this discourage you as the story of the dunes fighting the river makes for interesting scenery and makes this day very enjoyable.
We follow the Kunene River banks on the ridge of the dunes up to a point where we must leave the river and head for the Hartmanns Valley.
Wild Camping near Seirra Cafema.
Making way through the dunes
Day 06 - 160km
Following the Hartmanns Valley we head deeper into Kaokoland, land of the Himba which have been plagued by severe droughts, guerrilla warfare (during Namibian independence and the Angolan civil war) and the German forces that decimated other groups in Namibia. Despite Himba life nearly ending in the 1980s, they have persevered, and their people, culture and tradition remain.
The women are famous for rubbing their bodies with otjize, a mixture of butter fat and ochre, believed to protect their skins against the harsh climate. The red mixture is said to symbolize earth's rich red color and the blood that symbolizes life.
Himba lady watering livestock
We pass Red Drum and cross over to the Jan Joubert Mountain Pass to our camp for the evening.
Camping – Community Camp at Marble Camp Site.
Good friends
Day 07 - 140km
Today we will drive for a while in the Khumib River again but this time the Eastern side of it. This river reaches the ocean near Rocky Point. Our aim is to reach the Purros Community Camp which means we will hop from the Khumib to the Hoarusib River.
Purros is largely a Himba area. You will find some game in the area as animals congregates along the river. It is also traditionally the domain of the desert elephants of the Kaokoland. This group of elephants have adapted over time to survive in these harsh conditions.
They are sometimes evasive, so we cannot guarantee a sighting. If you do see them keep in mind that they are known to be aggressive. This will be our last day together.
Camping – Community Camp at Puros.
Day 08 - Puros to Sesfontein is 100km.
End of the tour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbjNQHlCnZ8
Stone men
Tour Price: 2025. (SADC MEMBERS) Touring with two days fishing.
- Adults: N$15,800.00
- Child Aged 16 to 18: N$13,800.00
- Child Aged 9 to 15: N$7000.00
- Child Aged 5 to 8: N$1500.00
Tour Price: 2025. (NON-SADC) Touring with two days fishing.
- Adults: N$16,950.00
- Child Aged 16 to 18: N$15,200.00
- Child Aged 9 to 15: N$8400.00
- Child Aged 5 to 8: N$2600.00
For any other dates please send us an email.
Dates available for this tour: 2025:
- 24 to 30 June.
This tour can be done with trailers, with a trailer booked tour, minimum eight vehicles. We do not cross through the dunes into the Harmann's valley. We backtrack until Angria Fria and exit the park via the Monotum River to Puros.
Monutum Rivier
Tour Program for trailers:
- Mowe Bay
- Hoarusib river to Khumib river.
- Angria Fria.
- Kunene Mouth.
- Monutum river.
- Puros.
Catering for this tour is optional and will be discussed when your tour is booked. Tour price will be adjusted accordingly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv8XXGoBR4I
Included:
We will supply you with breakfast and dinner.
Experienced guides with own vehicles.
Two-way radios for vehicles, camp shower and toilet during wild camping.
Communal, permits, concession and camping fees.
Excluded:
Travel and Medical insurance.
Beverages and water.
Any accommodation upgrades or changes to the tour plan.
Camping equipment.
Notes:
It is very important that everyone carries enough fuel. Most of the driving is on gravel roads and soft sand. Your vehicle must at least have a 1000km range, in 4x4 circumstances.
Please do your own calculation, as you know your own vehicle best.
Costs are based on current government taxes and regulations, should this change, we will have to adjust the tour cost accordingly.
Please ensure that you have sufficient medical and travel insurance.
