Damaraland Camp
Damaraland

In one of Africa’s most pristine and hauntingly desolate regions you will stumble upon one of Namibia’s best camps: the award-winning Damaraland Camp. Set between the Skeleton Coast and the Namib Desert, the camp is celebrated for being eco-friendly and sustainable as well as providing luxury accommodation in a soul-stirringly remote setting. It operates in partnership with the Torra Conservancy and being owned and largely run by the local community has added a certain magic and warmth to the camp. Its innovative design has successfully blended new technology with ancient methodology, for which it won the Tomorrow Conservation Award for the best eco-friendly construction.

Damaraland Camp’s accommodation comprises of ten adobe-styled thatched structures including one family unit, which are all elevated in carefully chosen locations across the camp to afford guests privacy and the best views across the surrounding purple-hued hills, small dunes and soaring Brandberg Mountains. The camp’s spacious thatched living area has a fireplace to warm up by on cool desert nights, a bar, and a swimming pool for a refreshing dip after your game drive. There is also an open campfire and outdoor 'boma' where guests can enjoy a traditional dinner and local entertainment from the incredibly friendly staff, topped off with some truly dazzling stargazing. The camp is hosted by a mixed heritage of the local people, including Nama-Damara, Herero, Owambo, and the displaced Riemvasmakers of South Africa, who guests can engage with further on visits to a local farms if they would like to.

Regarded as one of Africa’s top wilderness locations, Damaraland offers a unique safari experience… head out into the wild on nature drives and walks to search for desert-adapted elephants, alongside cheetah, gemsbok, greater kudu, springbok, lion, brown hyena and occasionally the heavily endangered black rhino. Birding is excellent, with over 240 species recorded. Guests can also explore this stunning landscape by mountain bike, or visit collections of ancient rock engravings including the famous Twyfelfontein etchings at Namibia’s first World Heritage Site.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson