Review: Wilderness Safaris Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp

Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe?I'd been to Namibia before, but landing at Hoanib after cruising up the Skeleton Coast was spectacular. Rusty dunes, shipwrecks, seals, lions, elephants, and zebras—it's primordial and lonely. I loved every second of my stay here.

What's the backstory?Wilderness Safaris is one of the most reputable safari agencies in Africa, and taking on this property was a risk because of its location, but it's got all the necessary chops to deliver above and beyond.

Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book?My tent was comfortable and had limited power and A/C. There were moths and small bugs in the sink, though nothing big. It's wild out there. I didn't hang out in the room much.

Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?Loads of fresh and nicely cooked wild game meat. Great rooibos tea and excellent oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies. The food was really nice, but vegetables were scarce. Breakfast was good, but limited.

And the service?Service was the best I'd had in Africa. The kindest and the most informative. My guide Elias was sharp and deeply knowledgable about the animals and the human-animal conflict.The one-on-one experience with Elias was deeply enriching, and the lack of Wi-Fi was wonderful. Don't miss the jeep trip to the coast, but prepare for the putrid smells of seal colonies.

What type of travelers will you find here?Hoanib hosted some of the most educated and traveled and knowledgeable group of guests I've encountered after 12 or so different safaris in seven African countries. There are a lot of scientific studies at the camp, so it draws serious conservationists and is not for the faint of heart. Discussions were mostly about poaching and how to identify and stop poachers. Some Californians, some Brits, Germans, Aussies, Canadians, Namibian nationals, and Swiss were in the mix.

What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene?You're in the middle of the desert. The tented camps are solar-powered and fit into the landscape as well as anything would. I would come back here before I go to another camp, and Wilderness Safaris should promote their conservation methods even more.

Is there anything you'd change?Pay guides and staff more. Use electric jeeps. Offer walking safaris. Engage with anti-poaching units more.

Any other hotel features worth noting?Flights are not part of the stay. There's a pool, but I didn't use it much because it's so hot and sunny during the day, and too cold at night.

Bottom line: Worth it? Why?Absolutely, because it offered a rarified safari experience in the Namib Desert and Skeleton Coast that you cannot get elsewhere.