THE COAST
A
Elzanne McCulloch
strip of desert sand that stretches from the Kunene to the Orange rivers, hugging Namibia’s coastline north to south. The Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site stretching between the Kuiseb River and Tsau //Khaeb National Park, is a mass of rolling dunes in shades of gold, ochre, and honey, that tumble into the cobalt-blue water. Many ships and their crews have met their end along the Skeleton Coast. Now a national park, the area covers the expanse between the Ugab River and the Kunene River, protecting the northern third of Namibia’s coastline. Between the Ugab and Swakop rivers, the sensitive ecosystem of lichens and Damara Tern breeding grounds make up Dorob National Park. Its most northerly settlement, Cape Cross, is the site of the largest colony of Cape fur seals in the world. The ice-cold Benguela current brings essential nutrients to Namibia’s coastal waters, supporting life under the water as well as above it. Consequently, the beaches of Dorob National Park are popular fishing sites and have resulted in settlements such as Henties Bay and Wlotzkasbaken. South of these, Swakopmund, with its charming architecture and quirky personality, is a favourite destination for travellers after hot safaris inland.
