Stretching north of Swakopmund is the Skeleton Coast, aptly named for the many shipwrecks along this coastline. A safari in the Skeleton Coast National Park offers more than 5000 square kilometres/1930 square miles of Namib Desert featuring wind-hewn dunes, rugged canyons and jagged mountain peaks.

The southern section of the Skeleton National Park is accessible by vehicle for exploration of the courses of the Ugab and Hoanib Rivers. The northern area is a designated wilderness reserve and can only be accessed by organised fly-in safaris.

Named for numerous shipwrecks along the beach, one of the highlights of the Skeleton Coast is the Cape Cross seal colony, with one of the largest breeding colonies of Cape fur seal (varying between 80 000 to as many as 250 000 during the breeding season.) This coastline is also popular with anglers.