Namibia : Damaraland

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Damaraland Camp	Palmwag Lodge
Palmwag Rhino Camp

Damaraland Camp
Damaraland Camp is situated to the north of the Huab river and 90km inland from the skeleton coast. It is an extraordinary rocky lunar landscape with eroded, sandstone mountains and rocky valleys dramatically cut in two by a swath of green, which is the Huab river and provides the life and sustenance for the local people and game who live in this rocky environment. Early morning mists drift inland up the Huab river valley, providing the all-important moisture for the plants and animals to survive.

The camp is set at the head of a valley; there are nine permanent, luxury timber and canvas tents with ensuite bathrooms. The rooms are extremely comfortable if a bit close together. In a secluded corner of the camp there is a rock pool fed by an underground spring in which you can cool down in the heat of the day. The camp is in a beautiful situation, surrounded by dramatic flat top mountains with eroded gorges and rocky outcrops and caves. You can go for walks around the camp with spectacular views and it is fascinating learning about the vegetation, which manages to grow in the area and who and what can live off it. Most of the plants seem to be highly poisonous but the game in the area has adapted and can deal with the poisons that would kill a man.

A unique attribute of the camp is the joint venture with the local community, who profit directly from the camp, which is on community land. Most of the staff at the camp have lived all their lives in the area, they are extremely friendly and happy to talk about their lives and homes in the desert.

There is a fair amount of game in the area and the most spectacular are the desert elephant who feed up and down the river system. They look no different to their savannah relations, except their feet are abit wider to help them walk in the sand. The one major difference, however, is how carefully they feed, they don't waste a seed pod or a leaf and certainly don't knock down a tree for a snack as savannah elephants often do. It is a rare treat to watch them living happily in this barren landscape. There is plenty of other game such as kudu, oryx, spring bok, baboons and a bit further afield the endangered black desert rhino. To see the Rhino you have to book in advance and it is an extra cost to hire a ranger and a vehicle for a long days drive. If you want to see the Rhino you are better to stay at Palmwag (see below).

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Damaraland Camp	rocky lunar landscape	the Huab river

luxury timber and canvas tents	beautiful situation	rock pool

rooms	desert elephant	elephant feeding

Palmwag Lodge
Palmwag Lodge is situated in the northwest of Damaraland, halfway between Swakopmund and Etosha, Palmwag is the ideal place from which to explore the Kunene Region. Set amongst whispering palm trees alongside a perennial spring in the Uniab River, Palmwag Lodge accommodates 24 guests in two and four bedded thatched bungalows. The en-suite rooms are simple but comfortable and have magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. There is an a la carte restaurant for meals, and a swimming pool with a thatched pool bar. There is also a camp site for guided and self drive holidays. The lodge can arrange optional morning and afternoon guided game drives in search of desert elephant, black rhino, giraffe and antelope. There are walking trails and day excursions to the Opuwo region to visit the Ovahimba people in their villages can be arranged.

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Palmwag Lodge	thatched bungalows

en-suite rooms	swimming pool	whispering palm trees

Palmwag Rhino Camp
Palmwag Rhino Camp is a mobile camp run in conjunction with the 'Save the Rhino Trust' in the private Palmwag area of the rugged northern Damaraland. The camp offers a brilliant insight into the ecology and conservation of this incredible area and at the same time contributes directly to the Trust and ultimately the sustainability of this vulnerable area and its wildlife. The area we traverse whilst tracking Black Rhino and other wildlife is massive, over 450,000 hectares.

This is a luxury tented mobile camp that can be easily moved if local game movements deem it necessary. A maximum of twelve guests will have the rare pleasure of exploring this wild and remote area in the company of the dedicated conservationists hosting them, together with local trackers. The camp has large 'meru' tents with en-suite facilities including bucket showers with hot water on call.

There are large populations of Hartman's mountain zebra, giraffe, oryx, springbok and kudu. The predator population is the largest outside of the Etosha National Park with over 100 lions, cheetah, leopard, brown and spotted hyena. Bird life is prolific and diverse with most of Namibia's endemics present. This concession supports a healthy population of desert adapted black rhino and elephants. Seeing some of the last truly wild black rhino in the arid wastes of the desert landscape, is out standing and well worth visiting while in Namibia.

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tent	tent interior	landscape

rhino	rhino	rhino