Schoeman's Skeleton Coast Safaris: Our full report
Skeleton Coast Safaris is a small, family-run operation that has been organising trips to this remote region since 1977.
These trips, of up to eight passengers, typically take three nights, with each night spent in a different tented camp. They are usually escorted by one of the Schoeman family, who acts as pilot, driver and expert guide, using light aircraft to hop between remote beaches and private airstrips, with rugged 4WDs on hand for on-the-ground exploration.What really stands out is the expertise of these family members, borne of knowledge gained over a lifetime of exploration along this coast.
Their guests spend each night at one of their three low-key permanent camps, from Kuidas Camp beside the dry Huab River in the south to Leylandsdrift Camp overlooking a spring in the Hoarusib River, and on to Kunene River Camp, on the lush banks of the Kunene River in the far north. All are just outside the Skeleton Coast National Park, contributing to the scale and diversity of this wilderness destination.
Each camp has just eight twin tents, all with proper beds, hot bucket shower and a private toilet; comfortable but not luxurious. In the evenings you’ll usually dine by candlelight under the stars – invariably with excellent food, good wine and lively conversation.
The Schoemans are amongst the best guides in the country, and will open your eyes to this unique wilderness. Bertus, Andre, Leon and Henk all explored the area with their late father, Louw Schoeman, who both founded these trips and was instrumental in getting the Skeleton Coast protected as a national park.
Their trips are hugely informative, giving unparalleled insight into the area, and we cannot recommend them too highly. On their spectacular light-aircraft flights you often see shipwrecks, seal colonies and flamingos, while on the ground you'll explore in modified Land Rovers and on foot.
On a typical trip you'll cross enormous dunes by 4WD, track some of the area's desert-adapted wildlife, especially elephant, slide down roaring dunes, and marvel at a landscape littered with semi-precious stones. You’ll spend time with the nomadic Himba people, whose traditional culture is now on a knife edge, and you’ll seek out ancient art etched into the rocks. These trips are real journeys of discovery – described by one of our travellers as “life-changing”.
While the Schoeman family’s own safaris start and end in Windhoek, Expert Africa can arrange to pick you up or drop you off in Sossusvlei, Damaraland or Etosha. In this way you can combine a Skeleton Coast trip into a longer, lodge-based holiday, be it fly-in or self-drive.
Our view
We consider the Schoemans to be among the best guides in Namibia, with in-depth experience and knowledge of the Skeleton Coast and surrounding area. A trip organised by their family is truly an adventure: perhaps the ultimate way to see Namibia.
Namibia expert
Geographics
- Location
- Skeleton Coast & Kaokoland, Namibia
- Ideal length of stay
- Trips typically last four days and three nights: one night in each camp. For two or more people, it’s also possible to include Sossusvlei or to extend the trip at the end. Longer trips of four or five nights may take in Damaraland, the Namib-Naukluft Desert, or Etosha National Park.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- Food at the camps is well-presented and plentiful. Breakfast and lunch are usually served as buffets; dinner may be a hearty stew or a substantial barbecue.
- Dining style
- Group Meals
- Dining locations
- Outdoor Dining
- Drinks included
- All drinks are included except imported wines and spirits (and any premium brands).
Bottled water is provided, with filtered or borehole water also available.
Special interests
- Birdwatching
- Exploring with an expert guide on a Schoeman Skeleton Coast Safari is the ultimate opportunity for birdwatching in Namibia. The variety of habitats, ranging from desert to coast to riverine forest, play host to some of the country’s birding highlights.
- See ideas for Birdwatching in Namibia
- Photography holidays
- Flying low over the Atlantic beaches and the rugged hinterland with Skeleton Coast Safaris offers superb options for aerial photography in Namibia. Further photo opportunities at ground level, from a 4WD or on foot, might include desert-adapted elephants or a remote Himba community.
- See ideas for Photography holidays in Namibia
- Cultural experiences
- A Skeleton Coast Safari offers an unrivalled opportunity to experience one of Namibia’s traditional cultures. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, you may seek out Bushman rock art, or visit a remote Himba settlement, where the traditional lifestyle is slowly dying out.
- See ideas for Cultural experiences in Namibia
Children
- Attitude towards children
- The Schoeman family welcome children of any age on their trips.
- Property’s age restrictions
- None
- Special activities & services
- None
- Equipment
- None
- Generally recommended for children
- While children of any age are welcome, we consider that the long days and the focus on exploration and understanding of the environment would not be appreciated by younger children or those without a genuine interest in the natural world.
- Notes
- With proximity to rivers and the ocean, unfenced camps and the potential presence of dangerous wildlife, children should be under the constant supervision of a parent or guardian.
Please note that we need to be notified in advance of children’s ages so that the Schoemans can make any necessary arrangements.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Skeleton Coast Safaris
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Schoeman's Skeleton Coast Safaris have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
100% success
67% success
50% success
50% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Communications
- None
- TV & radio
- None
- Water supply
- Borehole
- Water supply notes
- Water is filtered before use. All camps have flush toilets, although private facilities may include chemical rather than flush toilets. All tents have bucket showers.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- There are doctors in towns nearest to the individual camps. Medical evacuation by air is possible.
- Dangerous animals
- Moderate Risk
- Security measures
- A guide will accompany the trip at all times, with additional staff staying at each camp.
- Fire safety
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Although laundry can be done if urgent, you do not have long at any of the camps.
- Money
- There are no safes in the camps.
- Accepted payment on location
- Aside from cash for staff tips, you will not need to carry any money for this trip.
Other lodges in Skeleton Coast & Kaokoland
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Cape Cross Lodge
Right on the Skeleton Coast, between Swakopmund and Damaraland, Cape Cross Lodge has easy access to Cape Cross Seal Reserve.
Hoanib Skeleton Camp
Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is actually situated 42km inland in Kaokoland, this said they offer a superb guided day trip to the coast.
Terrace Bay
Terrace Bay is bleak. However, those that stay here come to experience the remote and inhospitable nature of the Skeleton Coast.
Serra Cafema
The luxurious Serra Cafema is in the most remote corner of Namibia - at the north end of Hartmann's Valley, across the Kunene River from Angola.
Hoanib Valley Camp
The intimate and remote Hoanib Valley Camp offers a rare chance to explore this dramatic corner of Namibia and to search for its sparse desert-adapted wildlife.
Shipwreck Lodge
The only property on this desolate stretch of coastline, the extraordinary Shipwreck Lodge opens up a new section of the Skeleton Coast National Park
Opuwo Country Lodge
Opuwo Country Hotel provides comfortable accommodation is well situated for a night's stop before travelling into remote parts of Kaokoland.
Epupa Camp
Epupa Camp is a welcoming oasis set on the palm-fringed banks of the Kunene River in north-west Namibia and close to Epupa Falls.
Leylandsdrift Camp
Used exclusively on the second night of a Skeleton Coast Safari, Leylandsdrift is in a beautiful location and is a good place to track desert-adapted elephants.
Kunene River Camp
Used exclusively on the final night of a Skeleton Coast Safari, the simple Kunene River Camp occupies a dramatic riverside location with some excellent birding.
Okahirongo Ele. Lodge
Tucked away in Namibia's far northwest Okahirongo Elephant Lodge offers luxurious chalets, with stunning views and plenty of activities.
Kuidas Camp
Usually the first-night stop on a Schoeman Skeleton Coast safari, Kuidas is a very simple camp with stunning views of the Huab River valley.
