A Skeleton Coast safari explores some of Africa’s roughest and most picturesque environments by air, car, and even foot. When not in the air, your Skeleton Coast flying safari will be spent in tented camps, with desert-beach lunches, excursions, off-beach fishing, and the opportunity to wander among the Skeleton Coast’s legendary wrecks.
Staying at local establishments also offers the best in frontier tourism, with a back-to-basics setup, cared for by community organizations. Depending on the safari you choose, your schedule can also include a visit to the incredible Sossusvlei Dunes and a stay at the exclusive Wolwedans Dune Camp.
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The best Skeleton Coast flying safari tours
Price of a Skeleton Coast flying safari?
Fly-in excursions cost about $4,500 per person. For camping, visitors can expect to pay US$1,000 a person for a 7-day communal tour, and up to US$3,000 per individual for a mid-range personal tour.
The pricing of a safari in Namibia is determined by a variety of variables. Joining a group camping excursion is the most cost-effective alternative. These can be a great deal of fun, but there is wonderful lodging available, and staying at safari lodges is also part of the experience.
There are resorts in various pricing ranges that provide various degrees of luxury and convenience. The most common type of accommodation is mid-range lodging at reasonable pricing.
Tour breakdown for a typical Skeleton Coast flying safari
Skeleton coast highlights
- Sossusvlei, home to the tallest stand alone dunes anywhere in the world
- The stunning Damaraland with its geographical formations and desert-adapted animals
- Desert of the Kaokoland & and track desert elephant
- Each night spent at a different remote camp
- Meet the Himba people near the border with Angola
- Soaring across settlements allows you to go great distances in a short amount of time
- A fantastic blend of attractions for both first-time and repeat travelers to Namibia
- Luxury safari camps are located on vast private concessions
Tour inclusions
The following details typical tour inclusions and exclusions on the best Namibia fly in safari packages:
Tour inclusions | Tour exclusions |
---|---|
Flights on a plane | Visa fees |
Experienced english-speaking guide | International/domestic flights |
Luxury lodgings with all meals | Hot air balloon activities |
Each lodge offers two escorted game activities each day | Tips to the driver guides, waiters and porters |
Game lodge food inclusions | |
Bottled water | |
Government taxes |
Skeleton Coast flying safari essentials and information
Must do on a Skeleton Coast flying safari
The Skeleton Coast is indeed the highlight of this flight path. The coastline is unlike anywhere else on the planet, with its foggy beaches, cryptic shipwrecks, and diverse flora and wildlife. The majority of the territory, as well as the camps concealed in the most remote regions, are only reachable by light aircraft, from whence you will explore by 4x4s or on foot.
You can also discover the incredible wonders of Etosha National Park, the park’s 1,800 square mile salt pan is huge. In addition, its salt pan is so large that it is visible from space.
Some of Africa’s most iconic spectacles have taken place here, including lions, elephants, hyenas, and rhinos squabbling over water. Other popular viewing locations are Homob, Kelin Namutoni, Okundeka, Chudop, and Rietfontein.
Visitors will also be thrilled to see the incredible Damaraland from above, a rough and hilly region marked by distinctive geology, archaeology & ancient biology. Steenbok, kudu, baboons, and warthogs are among the creatures regularly seen here.
Elephants that have adapted to the desert and black rhinos flourish in the region as well. Twyfelfontein, an UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site dating to the Stone Age, is nearby.
If that’s not enough, you can also take in Sossusvlei, a location known for its towering red and gold sand dunes and austere terrain.
Animals viewed on a Skeleton Coast flying safari?
The terrain of Namibia is just as appealing as the species, and it’s much more stunning from above, but don’t forget your binoculars, as there’s an astounding diversity of wildlife concealed in these arid plains.
A plethora of wildlife congregates around the waterholes, and game drives give several views of lions, wildebeest, giraffe, and zebra from among numerous plains animals. Meanwhile, Etosha National Park is home to elephants, leopards, and black rhinos.
Also keep a look outside for springbok and oryx, as well as rarer wildlife like the aardwolf, in the Sossusvlei and NamibRand areas. If you enjoy birds, speak to your pilot to locate the rare dune lark, which can only be found in Namibia.
Factors to consider when booking a fly-in safari?
The first things to think about are your finances and the length of time you have allocated for your vacation. Fly-in safaris are ideal for time-pressed vacationers.
It’s also worth considering whether you would like to see more of a region than simply the specific places into which you’ll be traveling. Traveling from region to region provides a more in-depth understanding of a nation, its people, and history than soaring over it.
This is especially true in Namibia, with its magnificent landscape, superb roads, and active local culture as you fly by. If you are prone to travel sickness or are a fearful flier, a fly-in safari may not be the best option for you.
Aircraft used on a Skeleton Coast flying safari?
The Cessna 210, a highly engineered small airplane with a single engine, is the most preferred for charter flights. It has a great reputation and is a six-seater that can accommodate up to four individuals. Perfect for beautiful flights.
The Baron is a slightly bigger and faster aircraft that is similarly flown by a single pilot but it has two engines. It can accommodate up to five persons.
A Cessna 404 can carry up to eight people. It is the Cessna 210’s elder sibling, with twin engines and two pilots. Ideal for bigger parties that want to fly in the same plane. More room and comfort.
The Cessna Caravan is a superb aircraft that accommodates up to 12 people and one pilot. The ‘4×4’ of small planes, capable of operating from rough airstrips, has a high-winged single turbine aircraft that is great for picturesque aerial photography.
Luggage restrictions on a Skeleton Coast flying safari?
On bush flights, luggage capacity might be quite restricted. The Cessna 206, for example, has just a tiny space under the seats, and bags are frequently squeezed in to fit within. As a general rule, soft duffle bags are preferable over hard-framed suitcases with wheels.
Some providers set quite strict weight limitations and will count your hand bags and even coats in the total. Most employers allow roughly 15kg per person as a general rule. Don’t be startled if an airline inquires about your own weight.
This is frequently done in order to securely balance the smaller aircraft. If you have too much luggage, you may be able to pay for a cargo ticket on safari routes.
FAQs
What is the average cost for a Skeleton Coast flying safari?
The average cost for a Skeleton Coast flying safari is $2,500 – $4,000 per person for fly-in excursions whilst accommodation and activity add-ons can add to this price.
What are the advantages of a Skeleton Coast flying safari?
The advantage of a Skeleton Coast flying safari includes saving a lot of time by avoiding long, bumpy road journeys. You’ll also see another side of this incredible landscape and wildlife which you wouldn’t otherwise see from the ground and enjoy the thrills of descending over the vast savannah.
Are Skeleton Coast flying safari safe?
Skeleton Coast flying safari are indeed very safe with private charter aircraft well maintained and piloted by professionals with years of flying experience and safety training. Each aircraft typically carries up to 12 individuals whilst larger planes seat 35 – 50 passengers.