Travellers have long mystified the Skeleton Coast with intriguing stories of shipwrecks, desolate dunes and beach roaming carnivores. This harsh, uninhabited environment has been difficult to reach by the ordinary tourist and few have had the opportunity to visit this fascinating stretch of coast and desert. Even today the area is only accessible to fly in tourists.

I was lucky enough to spend 4 days during December exploring just a small section. Arriving on the dirt air strip near the village of Purros, we were thrown straight into the swing of things as we drove through miles of desert, past the odd oryx surviving on just a few blades of grass and sniffing the sea breeze for precious drops of water.

The sea fog, which hopefully settles on the land during the night, provides the only moisture some of the animals and plants survive off year round. The complex world of wildlife found along the Skeleton Coast Park, one of the planets most inhospitable places, is endlessly fascinating but forms just one of the intriguing facets of the park.

Each day was occupied with a full 10hrs of exploration - packed lunches, plenty of water and giga bytes of storage for our digital images. We explored roaring dunes, vast windswept plains, towering canyons, clay castles, quicksand, salt pans and lichen fields.

If that wasn't enough we investigated seal colonies stretching 5km along the coast; circled by the odd brown hyena, jackal or the exceedingly rare desert lion. Dotted here and there are the remains of shipwrecks, sometimes used as a handy resting place by the lurking predators.

We checked and found the desert elephant eagerly drinking from the fresh water springs in the canyons along with springbok, oryx, ostrich, wildcats and honey badgers. Finally we tore cardboard off boxes and tried to sand board down the pristine sand dunes on our stomachs. Giving up we loaded ourselves into the land rover and did a few "wheelies" up and down the "stairway to heaven" which gave us a fair adrenaline rush and had to relax over a lunch on the beach whilst fishing for kabeljou. 

Just a few camps are found in the region north of Mowe Bay and only one camp holds a commanding position nestled on an exclusive private concession of 16 400km stretching along the coastline right to the Angolan border. 

During my time in the area we never saw another vehicle, fisherman or tourist. Just outside of the park we did come across a wildlife photographer, the local Himba villagers from the town of Purros and one delivery vehicle.

If you're looking for a truly remote wilderness experience in a proper, traditional safari camp with highly experienced guides this has to the place you check into next ... and hurry, please get there before the rest of the world finds out how beautiful this place really is and the prices go up even more or the camp turns into a glossy hideaway for the famous. 

A sample of a Skeleton Coast itinerary - please remember these are full days of activities. All the same you don't have to be particularly fit as everything is flexible and tailored to suit.

Day 1:
Arrive on a small plane either on the beach outside camp or an hour away at Purros
Flights in and out on Saturdays and Wednesdays only
Afternoon game drive to Rocky Gardens past desert mopane and through a wide, flat plain
Overnight in a very comfortable, traditional safari tent with en suite bathroom
Solar power heating only and limited water, no laundry available
Camp is rated around a 4 star facility

Day 2:
Head off straight after breakfast to a view point before testing out some quick sand
Visit an ancient stone circle village followed by the amazing agate mountains
Descend to Cape Frio and 5kms of seals (December is birthing time)
If lucky you'll spot a whale or dolphin.
Return home in the evening along the beach checking on the enormous crab colonies en route

Day 3:
Drive along the lichen field and visit the clay castles 
Slide down the roaring dunes and test the landrover on the Stairway to Heaven
Lunch at Rocky Point (deserted diamond mines)
Spend the afternoon fishing on the beach or hunt for non existent diamonds!
Back to camp in the evening for well deserved drinks around the fire

Day 4:
A leisurely big breakfast and time around camp 
Small charter plane back to Windhoek or onto another camp

PS - if you can stay up long enough and are persuasive enough, porcupines and hyena hang around the staff camp late at night ...

Cost per person all inclusive  including charters from Windhoek to SC and back:
01 December 2007 to 30 November 2008

US$4135.00 per person 3 nights single supplement US$550.00
US$4335.00 per person 4 nights single supplement US$685.00

£2100.00 per person 3 nights single supplement £278.00
£2190.00 per person 4 nights single supplement £346.00

Our http://www.easimail.co.za/Home/link.asp?id=8743&hash=e12584   website is undergoing a massive upgrade to better reflect the 14 countries we now organise safaris to: Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania with Zanzibar, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, Gabon, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the Indian Ocean Islands. Until then our current site will be maintained only on a basic level. 

and finally ...

Our team begged me to add a footnote wishing you all a wonderful and peaceful new year and to thank-you for your great support over the last year.    

With very best wishes to you all from all in our team:  

The Directors:  John, Trish and Chris

Our consultants:  Liz, Jackie, Delene, Sam, Jools and Julie
Our accounts and admin managment: Debbie, Jane, Claire and Char

and not forgetting the office dogs ... Digger, Jet, Tarmac, Boogie, Izzy and Maisy