Skeleton Coast Map

The Skeleton Coast is a remote stretch of coastline in south-western Africa where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean. The name derives from the skeletal remains of marine animals and the wrecks of countless ships that ran aground on its hundreds of kilometers of shoreline. Despite being one of the harshest environments on Earth, the Skeleton Coast is home to diverse fauna including seals, penguins, desert-adapted elephants, and unique plants, making it a destination for adventurers, nature enthusiasts, and off-roaders.

Map Overview

This map is a large-scale recreation of the Skeleton Coast region, blending features from several real locations in Namibia, South Africa, and Angola. Notable influences include Lüderitz, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Cape Town, Keetmanshoop, Hondeklip Bay, Kolmanskop, Mercury Island, Elisabeth Bay, Sao Martinho dos Tigres, and Moçâmedes.

Main Features

• 8x8 km base map size

• 70 km long highway through the desert extending beyond base map boundaries

• Multiple towns and settlements

• Diverse terrain including desert, sand dunes, mountains, bushland, and beaches with miles of unpaved roads and trails

• Dozens of custom buildings and objects specifically created for this map

• Custom skins, license plates, and vehicle configurations by Thom6502

• Various locations for transportation and roleplaying including shops, industries, mining sites, farms, logistics centers, and tourism facilities

• Locations accessible only on foot such as building interiors, mineshafts, and caves

• Island off the coast reachable only by boat

Map Extension

Beyond the 8x8 km base map lies a large drivable background terrain measuring 60x15 km, totaling 900 km². A highway runs through this terrain connecting to a small town at the end. The distance between the two main towns exceeds 70 km, making this one of the longest point-to-point drives in BeamNG.drive. The extension terrain serves primarily as background for the highway and is not intended for off-road driving, though it remains possible.

Lore and Background

In the early 20th century, the Skeleton Coast became a center for mining activities following diamond discoveries. The area still holds some of the world's largest diamond deposits. European colonists, primarily German, British, Portuguese, and Dutch, developed the region. Today, mining remains significant, though tourism has grown due to the remote landscape and colonial-era towns.

Traffic Direction Note

While real-world Namibia and South Africa use right-hand traffic, this map uses left-hand traffic. This decision was made because BeamNG.drive has few right-hand drive vehicles, making it impractical to have drivers seated on the wrong side for most vehicles.

Known Issues

• Map detail varies due to the balance between size and density

• Airport landing strip in Otjovasando has incorrect ground properties (dirt instead of asphalt) and cannot be fixed

• Ground textures may appear to "shiver" farther from the base map, particularly in Otjovasando

• Some objects in the map extension may have textures on top due to ground being an object itself

• Small vanilla objects such as benches, postboxes, and signs may have no collision

• Map view appears unusual due to the non-square shape and camera centering

• Additional bugs may exist despite thorough testing

Treasure Hunt Minigame

A small treasure hunt is included with 22 toilets placed across the entire map. Some are in obvious locations while others are more hidden. Most are only accessible on foot, requiring exiting the vehicle.

System Requirements

This map demands significant performance due to its size and may not run well on low-end systems. Systems meeting recommended requirements for BeamNG.drive should perform adequately, but minimum specifications may not provide acceptable frame rates.

Recommended Mods

• CK Dynamic Skybox

Credits

• Barbent Servo GT - Patience and invaluable help throughout the project

• Thom6502 - Skins, license plates, and beta testing

• Megaknight - LUA code for landmarks