Hoanib Skeleton Coast – Wilderness Safaris
Let’s begin with this assertion – when you’ve skilled Hoanib, you’ll ceaselessly wish to return.
I promise.
Be mesmerised and intrigued by the landscapes, animals and the ambiance of this magnificent and even otherworldly glamping expertise in Namibia. What the group have created right here is nearly past phrases, truly, it’s finest described in tune and dance, one thing the employees are greater than competent in performing; not me, I wouldn’t put anybody via that.
As a substitute I’ve put collectively a group of pictures from my time at Hoanib Skeleton Coast, the place I took roughly 8500 photos in 3 days. Not joking.
Situated inside a distant space of dry riverbeds within the Kaoloveld, it’s the place unforgiving circumstances present the setting for an journey like no different. Right here wildlife exists the place it appears unimaginable, their habits tailored to the tough desert atmosphere of the Skeleton Coast.
Wake to a golden glow on the horizon that softly illuminates the scenes surrounding your tent. Within the distance maybe a giraffe is nibbling on acacia timber, a mud cloud is stirred by passing oryx and the contemporary morning air gives a burst of vitality in your stroll to breakfast.
Then, a day of exploring awaits…
The Safari Expertise
From dawn to heat sandy sunset, count on the surprising whereas cruising alongside the Hoanib River and Skeleton Coast along with your skilled wilderness information. The times at Hoanib are designed to suit your curiosity and time, chill by the pool with binoculars and a drink or enterprise out on an all-day safari.
To get issues began, head off for a night sunset safari the place you’ll drive alongside the riverbed and desert to hunt out ostriches, giraffe, elephants, lions and oryx. Because the solar will get nearer to the horizon, your information will discover a particular spot to arrange a bush bar full with snacks so you may {photograph} the environment and absorb the setting.
These staying three nights or longer are handled to a day journey to the Skeleton Coast, one of the crucial numerous, rugged and photogenic days I’ve spent in a very long time. Beginning off good and early, you’ll drive for roughly 4 hours on a safari with a distinction, protecting diverse environments from riverbeds to sand dunes, cracked dry mud flats till lastly you attain the rocky shoreline with seashores stretching for miles.
Associated learn – “Wildlife Pictures Suggestions for Safari“
See every little thing from elephants to lions, spiders to seals then take pleasure in a handcrafted lunch by the ocean as your information shares tales of the shipwrecks. One of the fascinating issues I learnt was that the desert lions are beginning to realise a feast awaits on the coast, with two of the females turning to seals for a fatty snack.
For the return journey you may overlook the 4-hour drive and as a substitute take to the skies, flying again in simply quarter-hour over spectacular surroundings that gives an excellent alternative to seize aerial pictures. To examine my flight from Sossusvlei to the Skeleton Coast take a peek right here.
The Olympus Connection
Wilderness Safaris and Olympus have fashioned a partnership to boost photographic abilities for friends and guides whereas additionally making a optimistic influence on social growth through a scholarship programme run by Kids within the Wilderness.
For my time on the camp, I used to be fortunate sufficient to have Moses as my driver and information, not solely was he a complete character and all-round pretty man, he was additionally an Olympus digicam fanatic! Having somebody so captivated with images means not solely are you able to chat about all of the geeky goodness the cameras provide however he’s holding his eyes peeled for photogenic alternatives. I by no means needed to ask for the automotive to be moved into a greater place as a result of he was putting it completely to line up with roaming elephants, attractive mild or had already seen one thing higher to deal with.
At Hoanib Skeleton Coast you may truly mortgage out a whole Olympus package that’s designed for wildlife images. A digicam bag is packed and able to go together with an Olympus E-M1 MKII, 300mm f4 PRO lens, 40-150mm f2.8 PRO lens + 12-100mm f4 lens plus a wide-angle too! Throughout my keep I met with the stunning Cecilia who’s head of housekeeping and shared some recommendations on photographing from the camp, utilizing the 300mm lens to focus in on a giraffe consuming from the water gap in entrance of the principle eating space.
The Glamping Expertise
Image a tent, then think about a five-star resort room and throw in a stunning outside deck whilst you’re at it. The phrase tent can usually lead to damaging reactions, however I can guarantee you, the tents at Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp are spacious havens of all of the luxuries you would need for an African expertise. After which some.
In case your jaw doesn’t drop if you stroll into the tent for the primary time then I’m undecided what might impress you. They’re immaculate, fashionable and mix superbly with the environment. Out of your giant flooring to ceiling home windows you may gaze out in the direction of the water gap, see Giraffes, lions and any variety of animals wander previous.
In reality, there are not any gates on the camps so after darkish, you’ll be escorted again to your tent simply incase a bit lion decides they wish to be a part of you on the trail.
Every tent has devoted WIFI which I discover wonderful contemplating the situation, and also you’re additionally handled to a complimentary (big) cookie jar and mini bar that’s restocked day by day with cool drinks. There’s additionally a pair of Olympus binoculars for every room you can take with you on safari and every other little consolation you may think about is hiding someplace inside your room too together with plush blankets, plump pillows, dressing robes and slippers.
A keep at Hoanib Skeleton Coast contains full board so that you’re in for scrumptious meals 3 times day by day, snacks by the hearth pit whereas peering into the space for visiting wildlife and naturally the 2 day by day excursions.
The Environmental Effort
Because of the remoted location and Wilderness Safaris dedication to having minimal influence on the atmosphere, Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is 100% photo voltaic powered, with small photo voltaic geysers working at every tent for friends.
As a result of the encircling eco-system is so fragile, measures are in place to make sure use of bottled water is lowered by implementing reverse osmosis filtration. There’s additionally a picket bucket positioned within the bathe to make sure that any extra water used whereas ready for the temperature to be proper is then later reused by housekeeping.
Every tent has been designed to make sure efficient air motion, insulation and in addition benefit from nature lighting to minimise the necessity for energy utilization.
In a paragraph from the Wilderness Safaris web site – “Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is a centre for analysis and conservation of the desert-adapted predators of this harsh area: the desert-adapted lion and brown hyaena. The camp can be a part of a three way partnership partnership with the neighbouring communities, in order that ecotourism is ready to profit the folks of the realm. Hoanib helps a novel inhabitants of desert-adapted lions within the surrounding harsh desert atmosphere. The “desert” lion is a distinguished function in Namibia and is extremely valued by the rising tourism trade. Nonetheless, the battle between lions and the native folks is of continued concern and it’s this that the venture seeks to mitigate.”
My Private Expertise –
Few locations have the power to make you fully loosen up and overlook in regards to the outdoors world. To be immersed in a area so photogenic, so wild and so distinctive is a real pleasure and I’ll be ceaselessly grateful for my time at Hoanib Skeleton Coast. I couldn’t fault any little little bit of my keep, it was perfection.
Previous to arriving I’d achieved a little analysis into the Skeleton Coast however not a lot the lodging so was completely blown away by the setting and design of the camp. Even the arrival through airplane to a tiny dust airstrip was surprising, each minute feeling like I’d been hit with the shock stick and always wore the ‘wow’ expression throughout my face.
For the three days I spent at Hoanib I used to be targeted on photographic alternatives and had been hoping to seize portraits of the desert tailored elephants. Inside hours of arriving we have been whisked off on a sundown safari and handled to sightings of virtually each animal on my want listing. The keep couldn’t have gotten off to a greater begin and for the next three days I took in extra of 8500 photos with the wildlife but in addition atmosphere an entire inspiration!
One second specifically stood out whereas on a drive on the ultimate day of my journey. My information Moses discovered a herd of elephants alongside the riverbed and as a substitute of sitting shut by, he drove to seek out an alternate vantage level on prime of the riverbed trying down. Checking the realm was secure, we exited the automobile and watched from above because the herd rummaged the timber beneath us. Because the solar was setting and producing a robust glow throughout the panorama, one of many elephants determined to take a dust tub, flicking up the dry sand together with his trunk which was then illuminated by the sunshine.
Additional to this, on the ultimate night time employees gathered within the restaurant to carry out what I can solely describe as one of the crucial lovely issues my ears have ever hearken to. A set of songs of which everybody sang collectively whereas dancing amongst the friends. I’m not one to often shed a tear however there was one thing so shifting about this that I used to be filming whereas water welled in my eyes.
As with all visible resort evaluations, I’ll proceed now by letting the photographs do the speaking. For those who’re eager to seek out out extra details about staying at Hoanib Skeleton Coast, go to the Wilderness Safaris web site.
Take a examine my different journey with Wilderness Safaris on the Kulala Desert Lodge.
*Please be aware, I used to be hosted throughout my keep and offered images tuition to the Wilderness guides.
Howdy! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as knowledgeable journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this website is from my private expertise on the street. I hope it’s helpful in your personal travels and would love to listen to within the feedback about your journeys and experiences around the globe.
