A Surf Trip To Skeleton Bay, Namibia
A favourite destination for Saffa Surf Tours, Skeleton Bay, Namibia (also known as Donkey Bay) can be referred to as the diamond of the desert. When this natural phenomenon occurs, it’s easily rated the best wave in the world.
The longest sand-bottomed left known, Skeleton Bay first came to light in 2008. Situated along Namibia’s remote Skeleton Coast- it’s an experience like no other. The bay is in the middle of the Namibian desert- it’s hot, cold, dusty and windy – but it’s all worth it if you catch the wave on the right conditions.
These days, when a good swell is heading to Donkey Bay, you’ll see the usual suspects like Andre Botha, Benji Brand, Anthony Walsh and many other professional wave riders flock to this natural wonder.
The wave itself is the best wave you’ll ever see, it’s hollow, thick, fast, shallow and beautiful. It’s not easy, don’t let the perfect Youtube POV fool you. This wave is only recommended to the most experienced surfers.
It breaks down a sand point that is about 2km long, YES 2 KILOMETERS! To throw something extra into the mix, there’s a strong rip current that pulls you down the point. This rip current pulls you at about 20km/h if you don’t paddle hard enough against it. And before you know it, you have drifted down the point without even catching a wave.
Bearing this in mind, it’s fair to say your fitness should be up to scratch if you want to have a good time at the Donkey. So, if you’re planning a trip to this natural wonder, dust off those joggers and get that stamina up. The more laps you do, the more chance you have of getting that minute long barrel you’ve been dreaming of!
