Pelican PointOne excellent way to spend a morning is on agentle kayaking trip around Pelican Point. Run by Jean Meintjies, these trips start early in the morning when she drives you out to PelicanPoint, a sandbar near Walvis Bay. Jean has anumber of sturdy sea kayaks and she guides youto three colonies of up to 300 Cape fur sealseach. The seals love to swim around the kayaksand sometimes even jump over them! It ispossible to see dolphins, and flocks of gulls andcormorants are often overhead. There is a stop on a beach for warm rolls and coffee forelevenses. No previous kayaking experience is needed.SWAKOPMUNDGUESTHOUSE,SWAKOPMUNDThis upmarket guesthouse is located in the heartof Swakopmund, only five minutes' walk from themain shopping streets and beach. There areplenty of quiet areas in the garden and the mainhouse in which to relax and read a book. Thetwelve rooms have been individually furnishedwith crisp linens, large canvas wall art and en suitebathrooms decorated with beach pebbles to add a little character. The Borgs can help you toarrange excursions as well as giving you ideas forexploring at your own pace.CORNERSTONEGUESTHOUSE,SWAKOPMUNDThis small and friendly guesthouse occupies aquiet corner of the old town near the marinemuseum and the old brewery. It is a few minutes'walk to the Atlantic Ocean and The Tug, one ofSwakopmund's best restaurants. There are five ensuite rooms and an airy breakfast room where achoice of fresh fruit, juices, yoghurts and eggs andbacon is served. On warm days, breakfast can beenjoyed on the sunny veranda.SwakopmundThe old town of Swakopmund perches betweenthe sands of the Namib Desert and the waves ofthe Atlantic Ocean. With misty morning fog, itsclimate is a contrast to the inland areas andrefreshing after days in the south. The streets arewide and lined with palm trees, the buildingsfascinating examples of old German architecture.There's an array of curio and antique shops as wellas some particularly good seafood restaurantsserving fresh crayfish and Skeleton Coast mussels.A couple of hours' drive north of Swakopmundyou will find the seal colony at Cape Cross, hometo around 200,000 Cape fur seals. South ofSwakopmund - and equally worth a day's trip - isWalvis Bay. Pelicans sweep over the dunes to thesea, whilst hundreds of flamingos, avocets andother waders can be found in the water.16Kayaking at Pelican PointSwakopmund GuesthousePelicans at Walvis BayCornerstone Guesthouse

The Skeleton CoastNorth of Swakopmund the Skeleton CoastNational Park stretches up to the Kunene River. It is a barren area and particularly aptly named.Strong currents, treacherous fog and shiftingunderwater sandbanks ensured that many earlyexplorers' ships were wrecked here, their remains still visible many metres from the shore.The landscape of the Skeleton Coast, whilst stark,is stunning and rock formations such as the UgabFormations defy belief. There are clay castles atthe Hoarusib Canyon, dunes that roar andreverberate, and gravel plains covered withancient welwitschia plants. Dry river valleys arehome to desert-adapted elephant, giraffe andbrown hyena. The majority of the park is notaccessible to vehicles, but there are twocompanies that operate fly-in safaris to the area.Lasting three to four days, these are regarded byexperienced safari-goers as some of the best trips in Africa.SERRACAFEMA, SKELETONCOASTSerra Cafema is a beautiful camp situated underlarge albida trees on the banks of the KuneneRiver. The camp is in a wild area frequented bygemsbok, ostrich, desert-adapted elephant andnomadic prides of lion. Time is spent exploring the beautiful Hartmann Valley in 4x4s, the GreatDune Sea on quad-bikes and the mountains onfoot. Boat trips on the Kunene River are relaxing as you float along watching birds overhead andlarge crocodiles basking on sandbanks.www.audleytravel.com/namibia ?01993 838 525 ?Namibia17Skeleton Coast SafarisStarted in the sixties by Louw Schoeman andnow run by his family, Skeleton Coast Safarisrun three night flying safaris to the SkeletonCoast. The Schoeman brothers do most ofthe guiding, and it is hard to find betterguides anywhere. Using light aircraft, trustyLand Rovers and your own two feet, you willexplore the Skeleton Coast's fragileecosystem. There's the chance to slide downroaring dunes, explore ancient bushmansettlements and walk along inaccessiblebeaches past the skeletal remains of long-wrecked ships. Each night you will stay in adifferent camp, of which there are three. Allare tiny, but though this safari is not aboutaccommodation, your comfort is nevercompromised. More often than not you willdine under a tree, hot bucket showers willbe filled for you and there will be a roaringcamp fire in the evening.Flying over the Skeleton CoastSerra CafemaHimba girlsExploring the Great Dune Sea in the Northern Skeleton Coast