Damaraland

Damaraland is one of the most pristine wilderness areas in Namibia; situated in the mountainous region in north-west Namibia inhabited by the Damara people and named after them. Damaraland offers beautiful views across barren plains, ancient valleys, rocky crops as well as the Brandberg Mountains. The area offers absolute peace and tranquility as well as incredible star-gazing and is ideal for enjoying and exploring the desert environment.

Damaraland is unique in the sense that it personifies the Africa of old; there are no fences, local people and their livestock live side by side with the wildlife. Important features in the area include the Brandberg Mountains as well as the Torra Wildlife Conservancy.

Damaraland is remote and offers guests a private and exclusive safari experience. An unusual experience is to see the mist roll in from the Skeleton Coast approximately 56 miles (90km) to the west, and drift along the river valley to provide sustenance to a variety of life that depend on this daily moisture. The Huab River only flows once or twice during the short rainy season and seldom breaks through the dunes to reach the ocean.

Damaraland is a good destination to visit year-round because one is not chasing the wildlife activity, but due to the heat we recommend the winter months from May to September. Safari guests can expect to see desert-adapted elephant, gemsbok, greater kudu springbok, and occasionally cheetah and black rhino, as well interesting flora like euphorbias and shepherd's trees.

The area also has some of Africa's best rock engravings including the famous Twyfelfontein etchings. Considering the proximity of the concession to the stark Skeleton Coast National Park and true Namib Desert, this area is home to a surprisingly high diversity of wildlife.

The 350 000-hectare Torra Conservancy supports a healthy number of desert-adapted elephants. There are good populations of Hartman's mountain zebra, southern giraffe, gemsbok, springbok, cheetah, spotted and brown hyaena. The bird life is fantastic with raptors including Martial eagle, Lappet-faced vulture and pale-chanting goshawk.