Skeleton Coast Park — Springbokwasser Gate Buffer Dispersed Camp

This is the staging ground. You’re on open gravel scrub southeast of the Springbokwasser gate, where the Kunene desert floor stretches hard and flat in every direction. No facilities, no fencing, no shade — just the silence of the Namib and a sky that goes bone-white by midday. Most rigs running the Skeleton Coast track overnight here to hit the gate at first light, confirm permits, and push north toward Mowe Bay before the desert heat locks in. Self-sufficiency is non-negotiable: carry all water, fuel, and food before you leave Khorixas.

Access is via the D3245 and D3254 gravel roads north from Khorixas — roughly 150 km of corrugated dirt. High-clearance 4WD mandatory. Cell signal is zero. The Ministry of Environment controls entry; your pre-booked concession permit must be in hand. No open fires — this is national park territory at its edges.

Last free camp before the forbidden coast.