Damaraland Camp is situated in the Huab River Valley, one of Namibia’s most dramatic wilderness areas: stark plains and ancient mountains turning from rust to purple as the sun sets – a harsh land full of geological wonders and fascinating desert-adapted wildlife.
Spot desert-adapted elephants and other wildlife on nature walks and drives, learning their survival skills in this arid place. Search for smaller desert dwellers; follow a guide on a scorpion night walk with UV spotlighting. Travel to Tywfelfontein to view astounding San rock art dating back 6000 years. Visit farmers from the local Torra Conservancy, and hear how human-wildlife conflict has shifted to conservation. Cool off in the pool; enjoy a spectacular breakfast stop in the wilds; relish a fireside boma evening of cultural cuisine, song and dance, and incomparable stargazing.
Simply beautiful, relaxed, and open to the desert, Damaraland Camp has been a model for community-based conservation initiatives since 1996 – an award-winning partnership between Wilderness Safaris and the Torra Conservancy. Displaced in the early twentieth century from the local area, and relocated back to their homeland from South Africa in 1973, today the Torra community farmers thrive, largely through our partnership.
The camp is comprised of ten elevated, spacious, adobe-style thatched rooms (including a family unit), each with a large deck where you can contemplate the desert. Off the main area are a pool, open campfire, and outdoor boma – canopied with countless stars in crystal-clear night skies.
Damaraland Camp in the Torra Conservancy exists within one of the driest, most desolate regions in all of Africa. In this arid environment the ceaseless processes of life revolve around harnessing the near non-existent water in the most economical way possible. Obviously this scrub landscape cannot support vast, concentrated herds of wildlife, but it nevertheless boasts a varied and breathtaking assortment of desert-adapted species around Damaraland Camp. The Torra Conservancy supports healthy populations of rare desert-adapted elephant and some black rhino. Gemsbok (oryx), kudu, springbok, Hartman’s mountain zebra, southern giraffe, lion, cheetah, and spotted and brown hyaena also live in the area. Birding is excellent, with over 240 species recorded.
Learn more about the geological wonders of Damaraland, as well as the unique plants, birds and reptiles that have adapted to this arid area.
Morning and afternoon game drives reveal the dramatic scenery and fascinating wildlife of the region. Desert-adapted elephant are a highlight, although the natural cycle of rainfall dictates the seasonal movements of wildlife in the area.
Damaraland is known for its ancient rock art; guests on stays of three nights or more can take a day drive to visit some of these remains and marvel at the art of ages past.
For a limited time and available exclusively from Damaraland Camp. Set out in the morning by vehicle to follow the Save the Rhino monitors as they track one of their charges – the desert-adapted black rhino. Due to the vast terrain, long distances can be covered, with other wildlife to be seen along the way.
