Wilderness builds iconic new camp

With much anticipation, Wilderness Safaris announced the building and opening of their new camp “Hoanib Skeleton Coast”. Located 90 km south-east of their previous Skeleton Coast camp site, the new camp is located on the Hoanib River, the private concession straddling the Palmwag area and Skeleton Coast National Park, in one of the most remote areas of the Kaokoveld.
The Kaokoveld is a land of rugged scenery, a rugged and historic coastline, mountains, vast plains, and dry riverbeds inhabited by incredible desert-adapted plant and animal life. Despite the arid environs, one of the greatest concentrations of desert elephant and lion can be found within this extraordinary area – along with sightings of giraffe, antelope, black rhino, leopard and cheetah.
The Hoanib Skeleton Coast camp takes adventure tourism to the next level. Exploring the territory on foot, by vehicle, from a hide, or by air, small groups led by expert safari guides can look forward to unravelling the enigmatic history of the original San, their stone circles lying in hidden valleys. During a trek, the visitor can marvel at the ancient Welwitschia plant, follow large herds of plains game and other wildlife, and try and reach the horizon of the never-ending coastline and landscapes, unfolding untouched for hundreds of kilometres.
For the first time, forays into the Hoanib floodplains which were previously restricted inside the Skeleton Coast National Park can be undertaken. This includes the strange upwelling of fresh water at a series of oases in the middle of shifting sand dunes. Extended journeys will explore the shores of the world-famous Skeleton Coast.
The exclusive camp comprises eight units, including one family unit. It will be a classic colonial camp with all the attendant luxuries and amenities and is expected to be ready in July 2013. Along with a dedicated new airfield in the vicinity granting improved access, Wilderness says they look forward to doing this magnificent landscape justice using a low-impact design that is sensitive to the fragile desert environment.
“In line with Wilderness Safaris’ commitment to the government’s far-sighted Community-based Natural Resource Management policy – an approach that Wilderness has embraced from the outset – the twenty-year concession is a joint venture with the neighbouring Community-based Conservancies of Anabeb, Torra and Sesfontein” the company said at the announcement.