Damaraland Camp

Highlights

• Tracking desert-adapted elephants and other arid-adapted wildlife in the Torra Conservancy
• Day excursion to Twyfelfontein to view San rock art engravings dating back 6,000 years
• Authentic cultural interactions at the Fonteine Pos and De Riet farmsteads
• Guided nature drives, walks and seasonal hiking trails through dramatic desert geology
• Excellent birding with over 240 species recorded, and stargazing under crystal-clear night skies

You Should Know

• Children from 6 years of age are welcome
• Access is on a fly-in basis via Doro Nawas Airstrip, followed by an approximate 1.5-hour road transfer to camp
• Winter mornings can be cold; hot water bottles, lined ponchos and chenille blankets are provided
• The camp lies in a remote conservancy; activities are subject to weather, guide availability and lunar phases

The Details

Location

Wilderness Damaraland Camp lies in the Huab River Valley within the Torra Conservancy, one of the finest wilderness areas in Namibia. The camp is the result of a pioneering partnership between Wilderness and the local community, and visits to the nearby farmstead allow guests to see this relationship at work.

The surrounding landscape opens onto endless plains, ancient valleys and an ochre-purple mountain backdrop. Access is on a fly-in basis to Doro Nawas Airstrip, followed by a road transfer of around one and a half hours that doubles as a scenic game-viewing drive.

Accommodation

Ten adobe-styled thatched tents stand on raised decks, linked by gravel pathways. Nine standard tents sleep two; one family unit comprises two bedrooms, each with two three-quarter beds and its own en-suite bathroom, sharing an outdoor deck. The camp accommodates 22 guests in total.

Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with indoor shower, double basin vanity and toilet, a writing desk, ottoman and easy chair, ceiling fan, electronic safe, mosquito net, tea and coffee facilities, and a shaded veranda. Complimentary in-tent Wi-Fi is provided, along with yoga and exercise equipment on request from camp management.

Dining

Mealtimes celebrate fresh, local ingredients, with traditional Namibian dishes served alongside contemporary fare. Guests dine in the large open main area under thatch, in the outdoor boma beneath a sky of countless stars, or poolside on warm evenings. The braai on boma night is a perennial favourite.

Activities

Days are built around guided nature drives in 10-seater open 4x4 vehicles in search of desert-adapted elephants, gemsbok, kudu, springbok, Hartmann's mountain zebra and southern giraffe, with the possibility of lion, cheetah and brown or spotted hyena. Black rhino also move through the wider concession.

Guided nature walks and scorpion walks are offered when a qualified walking guide is available, along with the Damarana and Shepherd's hiking trails. A full-day Twyfelfontein excursion takes in San rock art, the Damara Living Museum, Burnt Mountain and the Organ Pipes, and is available to guests on stays of three nights or more. Cultural visits to Fonteine Pos and De Riet, stargazing with a laser pointer, and conservation talks by camp staff round out the experience.

Price Includes

• Accommodation in an en-suite adobe-styled thatched tent
• All meals daily
• Scheduled nature drives in open 4x4 vehicles (on the fully inclusive rate)
• Guided nature walks and hiking trails, subject to guide availability
• Cultural visits to the local farmsteads at Fonteine Pos and De Riet
• Stargazing with a laser pointer and conservation talks by camp staff
• Complimentary in-tent Wi-Fi
• Park and conservancy fees