The Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp nestles at the foot of a small range of hills in one of Namibia’s most beautiful and remote areas, on the fringes of the Palmwag Consession and the Skeleton Coast. The camp itself lies on the ephemeral Hoanib River, a seasonal and transient river that is rarely seen above ground. Still, the trickle of water is enough to support a fascinating and unique set of species – the hardy desert-adapted lion, elephant and giraffe.

The camp itself is small; there are only 7 en-suite tents and a family-unit, comfortably furnished and the camp is solar-powered. You really are in the wilderness here, and there is no mobile-phone or GPS coverage. Food is surprisingly good given the location, and there is even a small pool for a refreshing dip following one of the excursions. The camp is best reached by light aircraft, which fly in daily, as the land route is for only experienced off-roaders.

And it is the guided excursions that are the real highlight of a stay here. We recommend a minimum of a 3-night stay here to take full advantage of the offerings which include a daytrip down to the Skeleton coast. The outbound journey is usually by jeep, and then a light aircraft flight back to camp (weather-permitting, as the area is prone to fog), with raucous seal colonies and rusty shipwrecks one of many great memories.