Home to Namibia’s desert elephant and the endangered black rhino, Damaraland is one of Namibia’s true highlights. Damaraland is located approximately one hour’s flight north-east from Swakopmund. As with much of Namibia, Damaraland has beautiful scenery, but the underlying lava of this area creates a somewhat bizarre habitat unique to this part of Namibia. The southern part of Damaraland is an area we rarely use, as it is so easily accessible that it tends to get crowded. However, the gallery of rock art at Twyfelfontein deserves a special mention – it could rival the Louvre!
We encourage our clients to travel north, as northern Damaraland has the highest concentration of game and very few people. The further north-east you move, the more you leave the actual desert, and the more vegetation you start to see. Here also, the first concentrations of game start to appear, specifically desert elephant and rhino. Damaraland’s desert rhino and elephant deserve a special mention as they are two of Namibia’s unique game-viewing attractions, regarded by many as the game-viewing highlights of the country.
Damaraland is not a ‘tick-the-box’ Big Game destination. However, it does offer a subtle, sophisticated game-viewing experience. Here, your patience is rewarded by sightings of some of the most unique species left on the continent today.
Activities in Damaraland
Damaraland offers a range of activities like tracking the desert wildlife, most notable elephant and rhino. Activities also include trips to the ancient rock art at Twyfelfontein (a UNESCO World Heritage site), which are stunning rock formations formed by millions of years of volcanic activity.
Time of year to travel to Damaraland
Namibia is a stunning destination for much of the year. However, it gets extremely hot around mid-November and this should not be taken lightly. This heat remains until the rains break, and the country remains ‘questionable’ for travelers until mid-March, when the rains dry up and the country comes to life.
Top tip
Do not come to Damaraland if you are expecting to tick off the big game. Only come if you are set on viewing the rhino and elephant!